Mo Wenjie looked at the six of them, feeling warm inside, for they were all his partners. They were willing to come and go with him, and this kind of affection was truly invaluable. They were all able to treat him in such a way, so how could he let them down? In the future, no matter what difficulties or challenges he encounters, Mo Wenjie would never disappoint them. What he says, he does; he would never break his vows! Let the heavens be witness!
Just as Mo Wenjie's vow had just fallen, a sudden beam of divine light descended from the sky, as if the heavens were responding to his vow. The women saw this and their eyes were filled with surprise and emotion.
However, the tranquility did not last long. A dark cloud began to rise on the horizon, bringing with it a powerful and malevolent energy. Mo Wenjie's eyes narrowed, and he shielded his six partners behind him.
"It seems there's a powerful enemy approaching, but rest assured, as long as I'm here, I will certainly protect you all." Mo Wenjie clutched the sword in his hand tightly, and his aura surged.
The dark force quickly approached, taking the form of an old man in black robes. "Young man, if you don't hand over your spiritual energy, then today will be your doom."
Mo Wenjie sneered coldly, "If you want to take my things, first ask if the sword in my hand agrees." After speaking, he charged ahead towards the old man in black robes. A thrilling battle had just begun. The six companions each invoked spells and fought alongside Mo Wenjie, determined to protect the precious bonds between them.
The old man in black robes looked at Mo Wenjie and then at his companions, and he couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh. "Young man, with so many beautiful companions by your side, can you really bear to let them become widows? If I kill you, what will they do afterward? Will they follow you into the afterlife, or marry another? Either outcome is not what I want to see. After all, there's no deep grudge between us; it's just about some cultivation resources. Why should you risk your life? With so many beautiful young women, it would be a waste! You should really think about it!"
Mo Wenjie laughed loudly after hearing this. "Old man, do you think this kind of words can shake me? You underestimate the depth of my feelings towards them. We were born and died together. If I back down today, even if I survive, I will have no face to face them." The companions around Mo Wenjie also nodded in agreement.
The old man in black robes frowned slightly and sneered, "Humph, this is not dying." He increased his attack intensity. Mo Wenjie fought back fiercely but was slowly losing the battle. At this moment, the leader of the six companions took out a treasure and injected their own spiritual energy into it before throwing it at the old man in black robes. The treasure instantly released a powerful glow, temporarily restraining the old man.
"Quickly, go!" Mo Wenjie shouted. But the group gathered around him. "We'll leave together or stay together." Tuo Baying said. Mo Wenjie was moved in his heart and rekindled his spirit of fighting.
At this moment, the black-robed elder trapped by the divine light suddenly broke free and absorbed some of the spiritual energy from the treasure, becoming even stronger. Just as the group was on the brink of despair, a mysterious portal appeared in the sky. A white-haired immortal slowly emerged from it, "This is a realm of testing one's goodwill. Mo Wenjie, you have passed the test. The black-robed man before you is a manifestation created by my divine force. Now I bestow this spiritual source upon you to aid your cultivation." Mo Wenjie and his companions were astonished beyond belief and then overjoyed at receiving the divine gift. The black-robed elder vanished into a light point.
Mo Wenjie bowed deeply to the old immortal, "Grateful for your great favor, senior. I never thought I would be favored by an immortal. I will certainly not disappoint you and promise to make a name for myself in the heavenly realm to repay your kindness and recognition!"
The old immortal smiled and nodded, "Mo Wenjie, it's good that you have this determination. However, the path to the heavenly realm is not easy. Although you have received this spiritual source, you will still need to endure many hardships." Mo Wenjie responded respectfully: "Rest assured, senior. I have long prepared mentally." The old immortal waved his sleeve, and the surroundings changed; a portal radiating with strange light appeared. "This portal can take you to the entrance of the Upper Three Heavens. Go ahead." Mo Wenjie led his six companions into the portal. After a moment of dizziness, they arrived at the entrance of the Upper Three Heavens shrouded in clouds. They saw a massive stone gate closed tightly in front of them with two stone statues of divine beasts standing guard at its entrance. Mo Wenjie tried to push open the stone gate but found it unyielding. Just as he was about to worry, he noticed a plaque beside him covered with inscriptions. Mo Wenjie carefully examined the symbols and attempted to channel his spiritual energy into it. Suddenly, the stone gate began to open slowly, unleashing an overwhelming force from within. Mo Wenjie stabilized himself and led his companions inside the gate as they walked through it together. What lay before them was an expanse resembling a boundless cosmos filled with countless shimmering palaces in distant view. Mo Wenjie's eyes gleamed with resolve: "This is where our new journey begins! Be careful ahead." The crowd echoed back in agreement as they ventured deeper into the Upper Three Heavens towards their unknown destination.
Huang Ling'er suddenly asked Mo Wenjie, "What is this Upper Three Heavens, and what is its relation to the Thirty-Six Courts of Heavens?"
Mo Wenjie explained, "For example, the 'Three Realms and Six Paths' or 'Beyond the Three Realms and Out of the Five Elements.' So, what exactly are the Three Realms?"
Actually, different regions have different explanations for this. For instance, Buddha says that the Three Realms and Six Paths encompass all beings. The Three Realms refer to the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm, or the three paths of no-action attainment called Nirodha, Vibhajyoti, and Aniruddha. The Desire Realm refers to places where there are still desires for male-female relationships and eating. The Form Realm is where such desires have ceased, and beings feed on meditation joy but still maintain physical forms. The Formless Realm only exists as a consciousness (commonly known as a soul) without any physical existence. Its lifespan can last up to eighty-four thousand great calamities but still experiences birth and death cycles. Therefore, Buddha's sutras say: "All three realms are suffering; it is like a burning house."
In Taoism, the "three realms" generally refer to the heavens, the earth, and the human realm, which are commonly known as heaven, the mortal world, and the underworld. These realms are interconnected with six paths of reincarnation. The Emperor of Heaven is revered as the ruler of all three realms, the highest existence in heaven and on earth, governing all things. Additionally, in the "Sutras of the Three Deities," heaven, earth, and water are also considered as the three realms.
Jiang YuRou listened to Mo Wenjie's explanation and suddenly understood everything. She hadn't realized that the heavenly realm had so many intricacies, but then again, she wasn't worried about food or drink. As long as she followed Mo Wenjie, she had nothing to worry about!
At that moment, a strange ripple emerged in front of a massive palace. Mo Wenjie became alert and signaled the group to stop. The ripple slowly revealed a man wearing magnificent brocade robes, exuding powerful aura.
"You newcomers, this is my territory. If you wish to pass through, you must leave half of your treasures behind," the man said haughtily.
Mo Wenjie stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Gentleman, your words are incorrect. We are just passing through on our way to another destination, with no ill intentions. May we please pass through?"
The man snorted coldly: "Don't argue. If you don't give it up, you can't pass through." He then summoned a surge of spiritual energy and attacked Mo Wenjie.
Mo Wenjie sidestepped and quickly counterattacked. In an instant, the two fought fiercely, neither able to gain the upper hand. Jiang YuRou watched on the side, anxious and unsure how to help. Suddenly, Mo Wenjie spotted a weakness in his opponent and exerted all his strength, hitting the man's vital point. The man glared with a look of reluctance and finally vanished into a wisp of green smoke. Mo Wenjie let out a sigh of relief and turned to his companions, shouting, "Come on, there's still a long way to go." The group continued their journey forward.
Ding Yan suddenly asked, "Mo Wenjie, if you truly succeed in the Upper Three Heavens and establish a realm, will you abandon us?"
Mo Wenjie listened to Ding Yan's words and he helplessly shook his head, "I'm telling you now that I don't know whether I will abandon you or not. But for them, I will never abandon them!"
Ding Yan asked hurriedly, "Why, Mo Wenjie?"
Mo Wenjie shook his head and said, "Because they trust me. But you have never trusted me. You only turned back because you were deceived. If you hadn't been deceived, how could you have turned back!"
Ding Yan puffed out her cheeks in anger, "How can it be my fault? I just wanted to find a powerful boyfriend. Did I do anything wrong?"
Mo Wenjie looked at Ding Yan, sighed softly, and said, "Pursuing strength is not wrong, but trust is the most basic thing between companions." Ding Yan's eyes reddened, and she gritted her teeth, "Alright, Mo Wenjie, remember what you've said today." She turned her head and walked away.
Jiang YuRou worriedly looked at Mo Wenjie, "Can we just let her go like that? The road ahead is dangerous." Mo Wenjie remained silent for a moment before saying, "Since she has chosen to pursue strength, let her go. We will continue on our journey."
The group continued to travel for a while when they suddenly heard cries for help. Following the sound, they found Ding Yan surrounded by a pack of demonic beasts. After leaving alone, Ding Yan quickly fell into danger. Without a word, Mo Wenjie rushed forward, his spiritual sword swinging fiercely, driving away the demonic beasts.
Ding Yan looked at Mo Wenjie in surprise: "Why did you save me?" Mo Wenjie looked at her and said, "No matter what, we were once companions. And I hope you understand that true strength does not lie in depending on others, but in the steadfastness of one's own heart and the trust in others." Ding Yan lowered her head, as if she had gained some insight.
Mo Wenjie shook his head, "Let's not talk about it anymore. Whatever will be will be. If you want to stay, I won't force you. It's your choice!"
Ding Yan bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I want to stay." Mo Wenjie was slightly stunned and then nodded. Jiang YuRou walked up and took Ding Yan's hand, smiling warmly to welcome her.
The group resumed their journey. At this time, Ding Yan seemed to have transformed into a different person, actively participating in handling various situations they encountered along the way. Once, they inadvertently entered an ancient array that was fraught with danger; any misstep could lead to being killed by the spiritual energy within the array. Drawing on her knowledge of arrays from what she had heard elsewhere, Ding Yan proposed a direction for breaking the array. Mo Wenjie, after some thought, deemed it feasible and tried according to Ding Yan's suggestion, successfully breaking through the array.
After breaking through the array, Mo Wenjie looked at Ding Yan and said, "It seems that you have learned to rely on your own abilities to face difficulties." Ding Yan blushed and smiled modestly, "Thanks to your words back then. Now I understand that only by being strong within oneself and trusting one's companions can one truly grow." Henceforward, Ding Yan became a reliable member of the group, and together they continued their journey towards the unknown path of cultivation.
