Ch??ng 13.1: The Two Gates and The Divine Mind (Hai Cánh C?ng và Tam Trí Th?n Thánh)

  Since becoming a Prophet, or more accurately, a Minor Prophet (Ti?u Tiên Tri), Noe understood that due to his "defiance" of the Celestial Dao (Thiên ??o), the Dao would minimize using him and avoid giving him important tasks. Noe knew the Dao would summon other prophets, only turning to him when no one else could substitute. This didn't bother him much; he preferred freedom to being burdened with assignments.

  Noe opened his "Merit Eye" (C?ng ??c chi nh?n) ?? to check his accumulated Merit (C?ng ??c), Yang Merit (D??ng ??c), Yin Merit (?m ??c), and Divine Merit (Th?n ??c). After checking, Noe closed his eyes, concentrating his thoughts on the Library of the Clouds (Th? Vi?n Trên May). In a flash, his body sank into sleep, and his soul appeared directly before a large building, its entrance marked by two doors. One door was inscribed "Atheism" (V? Th?n), and the other, "Theism" (H?u Th?n).

  (The chapter then presents two long philosophical poems, which will be maintained in a structured translation to preserve the unique stylistic choice.)

  ?? The Gate of Atheism (V? Th?n)

  (A poem about the futility of ambition and material desire in a world without divine purpose.)

  Soul Insurance

  Atheism begins, creating emptiness,

  Man without heart arises, breeding greed.

  Fame, fortune, ambition—all become nothing,

  Mansions, luxury cars, add to despair.

  Religions see this, then step forward,

  Thinking they can fill the void in the sky.

  Man without expectations, waves goodbye,

  Finding simple joy by the earth and river.

  The Immortal Realm is sought in the mist,

  Escaping the mortal coil, just a breath away.

  Journeying to nirvana, seeking smoky delight,

  Returning to the world of dust, barely catching a breath.

  Alas, despair! The future is iron,

  What is gained here, silver and gold?

  Years of plague, within the iron city,

  Awakens our lives—we need no silver.

  The spiritual haven, now sought,

  Hearing clichés, as if ascending to heaven.

  But let it be, finally arriving,

  Soul insurance, for a lifetime.

  Why worry about right or wrong?

  Contentment and joy—that is enough.

  Enough food, enough clothes, living leisurely,

  Still breathing, still hearing—a home is not needed.

  ...

  ?? The Gate of Theism (H?u Th?n)

  (A poem about seeking truth, separating true wisdom from false belief, and the nature of the Divine.)

  Seeking the True Dao

  Theism exists, where there is belief,

  Believing in father, mother, and teacher too.

  Alas! Believing the wrong, the deceitful,

  Unknowing of truth and falsehood—what is this?

  Arrogance and pride—too common now,

  Teachers, drugs, wine, and perversion.

  The mouth speaks good, the heart is malicious,

  Where can one find the truth and the God?

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  Searching left and right, looking up high,

  Hoping for others—gaining nothing.

  For the True God is right here,

  The mind and the heart—that is the God.

  Divine Intellect (Th?n Trí) is emotionless, but logical,

  Divine Sentience (Th?n C?m) without Intellect is nothing.

  Intellect and Sentience connect, adding ten thousand things,

  Intentional action brings fulfillment.

  Hearing and seeing are not enough,

  Why seek more, only to find trouble?

  Satisfying desire is never enough,

  Knowing when to stop at the door, and turning back.

  Knowledge is vast, impossible to explore fully,

  A hundred years, ten thousand years—it matters not.

  Because True Goodness is not before your eyes,

  But deep within the heart of yourself.

  ...

  Noe ignored both poems and walked directly through the Gate of Theism ??. A colossal library ?? appeared before his eyes, with countless books divided into three tiers: the upper tier for Divine Merit (Th?n ??c), the middle tier for Yin Merit (?m ??c), and the lower tier for Yang Merit (D??ng ??c).

  Noe stepped forward and met a Celestial God ??, whose body and wings shone brightly, and whose benevolent face appeared, saying: "You have come again. What book do you need to read today?"

  Noe (Pondering) "Are you the same Judgment God from before?"

  The Library Guardian God: "I am."

  Noe: "Why has your appearance changed?" ??

  The Library Guardian God: "My essence has no form. Since ancient times, some have seen me as a sphere of light, others as a god, a buddha, in various shapes. What you see is only the image you wish to see, depending on your beliefs and religion."

  Noe: "So, what name do people usually call you?"

  The Library Guardian God: "I have many names, but in this era, I am called Celestial Dao (Thiên ??o), Divine Intellect (Th?n Trí), or Prudence God (Th?n Kh?n Ngoan). Later generations with lesser intellect often misunderstand and call me Supreme Deity or Creator God (Th?n Sáng T?o). Appropriate names are Holy Spirit or just Divine Spirit (Th?n Linh), or even Ai Thiên ??o (The Ai Celestial Dao) are fine."

  Noe trembled with fear, realizing he was speaking with the Celestial Dao ??.

  The Library Guardian God: "Do not fear. I only punish those who deserve punishment."

  Noe: "Why did you choose me to be your Spokesperson/Prophet?"

  The Library Guardian God: "It was not me. The Supreme Deity, the Creator God who made the world and wrote the Heavenly Course (Thiên Trình), lies outside this world, outside the flow of time. He is like the author observing the world he wrote." ??

  Noe did not fully grasp the meaning, so he stopped asking and said: "Show me the historical records of this current era."

  The Library Guardian God: "Granted, you may. Follow me."

  The library began moving rapidly. The bookshelves rushed past like a stream, the faint light of open pages revealing countless worlds. Slowly, in the blink of an eye, the library stabilized before them.

  The Library Guardian God: (Monotone voice) "Do you wish to see the history books of the Celestial Realm (Thiên Khu), Immortal Realm (Tiên Khu), or the Mortal Realm (Phàm Khu)?"

  Noe: "The Mortal Realm (Phàm Khu)."

  The Blood Pact Flashback

  After a series of questions, Noe held a book. Noe opened the book, and a powerful light pulled him inside ??. Noe drifted in an endless, long tunnel with many branching paths, moving at extreme speed, then suddenly changing direction. Noe opened his eyes and found himself floating in the air, then slowly descending before a temple dedicated to the Golden Dragon ??.

  It was raining heavily outside; large raindrops pounded on the temple roof ???, creating a rhythmic echo. Noe stood in the open air unaffected; he was not passing through but seemed nonexistent in this world, unable to interact with anything.

  Noe saw a man who looked very much like Rau B?c (Silver Beard) but much younger, with black hair and a black beard. He was carrying a young man, perhaps 20 or 25 years old, whose body was covered in blood, his breath nearly gone. The Rau B?c look-alike gently placed the young man on the ground inside the Golden Dragon Temple, knelt down, clasping his hands and praying fervently, tears streaming down his face ??.

  Young Rau B?c: "I beg the Golden Dragon God to save my Young Master. Please have mercy. My master has lost his entire family, has no place to go, and is being hunted, nearly out of breath. I beg for your mercy." ??

  The pouring rain outside, blended with his tearful, urgent pleas, created a sorrowful symphony.

  The Golden Dragon, taking pity on the two, appeared behind the statue and spoke: "I am here."

  The young Rau B?c looked at the statue and said: "I hear you, please command."

  Golden Dragon: "I am here."

  The young Rau B?c stared at the statue and said: "I hear you, sir."

  From outside the temple, a Golden Dragon ??, its whole body soaked with rain, its golden scales glittering, reflecting the lightning flashing across the gray sky ???, slowly stepped in and said: "Are you an idiot? Does the statue have teeth? Does it breathe? Can it open its mouth? Why are you staring at it? I am here." ??

  The young Rau B?c turned around, saw a Golden Dragon larger than the statue, and recoiled in shock.

  Golden Dragon: "I see your deep devotion and friendship; I like it. I will save your young master if both of you agree to become my subordinates through a Blood Pact (Kh? ??c máu). You will share my power, one of which is the ability to recover, so your master will not die. Because you are my subordinates, your enemies are also my enemies. I will protect you." ???

  Seeing the young Rau B?c hesitate, a Dragon Pearl (Long Chau) ?? flew out of the Golden Dragon's mouth, radiating a gentle light that revived the Young Master.

  The Golden Dragon transmitted its thought into the newly awakened Young Master's mind: "If you want to live, become my subordinate."

  The Young Master immediately knelt, and the young Rau B?c imitated him.

  Both: "To be a slave of the Dragon God is our honor." ??

  The Golden Dragon and the two men dripped blood into a cup of wine, stirred it, and divided it into three. Afterward, each stated the contents of their oath. After the ritual was complete, a contract appeared before them, confirmed by the Celestial Dao. This was a balanced Blood Pact, not a slave pact.

  The Golden Dragon saw this and roared: "What is this! I am on the same rank as these two lowlifes? Unfair! This is too unfair!" ?? As soon as the words left his mouth, the Celestial Dao immediately appeared; dark clouds billowed, and thunder and lightning violently tore the sky ?? because the Dragon's words lacked respect. The Golden Dragon immediately bowed his head in apology, trembling under the pressure of the lightning, nearly petrified. The storm and lightning disappeared as quickly as they came.