Yuanshi Tianzun

Yuanshi Tianzun took shape from Pangu’s primordial spirit. He, Laozi and Tongtian came out of the primal vapour together, and the three travelled to Zixiao Palace to hear Hongjun preach.

When the three sermons were done, Yuanshi received a stream of Primordial Purple Qi and founded the Chan Sect with it, taking in followers freely at the Yuxu Palace on Mount Kunlun; the Twelve Golden Immortals and Jiang Ziya entered his gate in turn.

Foremost among them were Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Huanglong Zhenren, Juliusun, Taiyi Zhenren, Lingbao Dafashi, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun, Puxian Zhenren, Cihang Daoren, Yuding Zhenren, Daoxing Tianzun and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun — the Twelve Golden Immortals, each with disciples of his own in his own cave. Jiang Ziya attended at Yuxu Palace as well.

Afterwards the three teachings jointly signed the Investiture List and fixed the number of true gods at three hundred and sixty-five. Yuanshi, Laozi and Tongtian were all party to it, and whoever of their followers fell to the calamity would be enfeoffed from the roll.

Jiang Ziya had cultivated forty years at Yuxu Palace without attaining the Dao. Seeing the limits of his foundation, Yuanshi sent him down the mountain to serve the house of Zhou and manage the investiture.

As he left, Yuanshi handed him the apricot-yellow banner, the Sibuxiang and the God-Beating Whip one after another, and warned him to keep the Investiture List close and never give it to another.

After Jiang Ziya came down, war grew between Shang and Zhou. Wen Zhong called in the Ten Heavenly Lords of the Jie Sect, who set out the Ten Absolutes Formations in a grim line outside Western Qi.

Yuanshi sent the Twelve Golden Immortals down one after another, each charged with breaking a formation, and Guangchengzi, Chijingzi and the rest met the Ten Heavenly Lords in turn.

The killing inside the Ten Absolutes was terrible. Chan sent men in first to test them and those who went died; then the Twelve Golden Immortals entered the separate formations, and the Ten Heavenly Lords fell one by one in the breaking of them.

After the Ten Absolutes, Zhao Gongming was cursed to death by Jiang Ziya with the Seven-Arrow Book of Nails, following the method Luya had taught him. The Three Xiao ladies came to avenge their brother and set out the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation, taking many Chan disciples into it and stripping the three flowers from their crowns, which cost them dearly.

On the news Yuanshi went to the formation himself and entered the Nine-Bend Yellow River with Laozi, releasing the trapped Chan disciples. The Three Xiao each fought and each fell, the Hunyuan Golden Dipper was taken from them, and the formation was broken.

With the Ten Absolutes all broken, Wen Zhong was beaten back towards Jueleng Ridge, and Tongtian Jiaozhu — his followers falling one after another — angrily set out the Zhuxian Sword Formation at Jiepai Pass.

Yuanshi took the Pangu Banner, left Yuxu Palace, and arranged with Laozi, Jieyin and Zhunti to go before the formation together, each at one gate, striking at the same moment.

Sword-light crossed inside. Yuanshi went straight in holding the Pangu Banner; when it unfurled it threw out an edge of sky-splitting force that drove back the Jie disciples in his path.

Through several hard engagements the four took Zhuxian, Luxian, Xianxian and Juexian down one at a time and carried them out of the formation.

Tongtian Jiaozhu’s anger did not cool. He gathered the immortals of the Jie Sect again and set out the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation beyond Tong Pass, on a greater scale than the Zhuxian.

Yuanshi went to it again and discussed the breaking of it with Laozi. Jieyin and Zhunti arrived after them, the four met outside, and together they stepped into the formation.

Wandering Jie immortals blocked them layer by layer. Yuanshi fought his way forward with the Pangu Banner, scattering whoever stood in his path with its wind and never staying long in one engagement.

Tongtian Jiaozhu appeared at the heart of the formation and stood face to face with Yuanshi and Laozi. Nothing was left of their old fellowship in what was said, and each held his weapon at the ready.

When the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation had fallen, Tongtian still meant to start again and set earth, water, fire and wind in motion. Hongjun then appeared, called Yuanshi, Laozi and Tongtian away together, and made all three swallow a pill to end the fighting.

When the war was over Yuanshi carried the Pangu Banner back to Yuxu Palace, and the Twelve Golden Immortals returned to their own mountains once the fighting had settled.

On the day the Investiture List was read at the terrace, Jiang Ziya proclaimed the charges from the roll. Yuanshi did not come to Western Qi; he waited quietly on Mount Kunlun for the news.

Afterwards the Chan disciples went their separate ways: some stayed at the old Yuxu seats, and some followed Randeng, Cihang and others into what became the Western Sect and the Buddhist establishment.