Emperor’s Domination

“No perfect solution.” The face sighed again.

“Mortals might come up with perfect solutions for things but the world does not permit us to have one.” Li Qiye smiled.

“We are alone.” The face said.

“Yes, the dao has to be walked alone. You can’t bring the world with you. You can’t grant everlasting life to your people.” Li Qiye said.

“Right, it would be difficult to have everlasting life for myself already.” The face said.

“That’s why you must be able to bid farewell to the past and face death directly, not just your own but the death of others.” Li Qiye said.

“Even immortals find it hard to confront death.” The face said.

“That’s why the dao heart is so pivotal. One mustn’t be afraid of death to the point of it being their downfall.” Li Qiye said.

“Facing death.” The bear and the emperor murmured.

“What’s clinging to your dao heart is an obsession with the past. Even if resurrected, you won’t be you.” Li Qiye said.

“Right.” The face agreed.

“Then what about the dao heart, where does it come from?” Li Qiye asked.

“My perseverance.” The face said.

“For life? Or to live? Then you wouldn’t have died the way you did. You could have devoured like other immortals. Did you do so?” Li Qiye asked.

“I sought the dao, not to devour the world.” The face said.

“Then this gives a clear example of what matters more to you between life and the dao heart.” Li Qiye said.

“The dao heart.” The face admitted.

“How will you proceed now?” Li Qiye asked.

“There must be a better way.” The face said.

“Who will you ask for a better way? The high heaven? Or perhaps the mortal world.” Li Qiye asked.

“The mortals can’t provide an answer to our dilemma.” The face said.

“Let’s say that you wish for all the things you want to be immortal and for all the beautiful things to remain. Can the world handle so many beings with everlasting lives and beautiful things? No, that’s too greedy. Mortals only want a full stomach and a family while immortals seek eternal life. After enough time has passed, there will be too many immortals around. Will the world still be beautiful?” Li Qiye said.

“If none of them die…” The face pondered.

The emperor and the bear thought about the same thing. For the former, the beauty of life included becoming an ancient ancestor to protect Golden Lamp. As for the bear, he did indeed want to seek eternal life and learn more about the dao.

Alas, it wouldn’t stop there. After becoming an ancient ancestor, she would want to become an overlord and so on and so forth…

“The so-called beauty of life for mortals is having ample food to feed the wife and children at home. For the immortals, only eternal life. Such a form of beauty and perfection is not permitted.” Li Qiye said.

Thunder Emperor recalled how Li Qiye said there shouldn’t be immortals in the mortal world.

“Immortals aren’t worthy of a good life?” The face asked.

“It’s not like that. What is the difference between immortals and mortals?” Li Qiye said.

“Immortals are mountains among men.” The face said.

“That’s a fine way to put it, the mountains everyone looks up to. Alas, although they are superior and admired, one thing keeps both sides equal.” Li Qiye said.

“That is?” Thunder asked.

“Death.” Li Qiye told the group: “Because the mortal world belongs to everyone, not just immortals. Immortals can only be passersby. If they want to stay, they must also experience death.”

“Then where should immortals go? Where is their world?” The bear asked.

“There is none. They must continue to travel unless they are ready for death, only then should they stay.” Li Qiye said.

“The high heaven.” The face spoke.

“Yes, everlasting and unkillable.” The bear said.

“There is only one and it does not exist in the mortal world or an immortal world. One does not make up a world.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Only one, the number of the high heaven.” The bear looked stunned as if he was struck by revelation.

“The number of the high heaven.” The face murmured the same thing.

“What you seek is not life alone, and definitely not only one. Thus, can your world exist?” Li Qiye said.

“No.” The face admitted the truth and fell into silence.