Chapter 112: The Gathering of Ten Thousand Immortals to Determine the Mandate of Heaven

The child sat in the main seat, eyes fixed on the assembly, his expression unchanged, smiling gently as he spoke: “Fellow cultivators, each of you has comprehended the workings of fate and understands clearly the true nature of this calamity of slaughter.”

Everyone understood well: the so-called celestial and demonic slaughter calamity was designed to offset the tribulations of the Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations.

Immortals seize the natural order of heaven and earth, absorbing the essence of sun and moon. Over time, they attain immortality. Successive generations perpetuate this longevity. Initially, there was only one immortal in a mountain, but centuries later, there are dozens, even hundreds. According to the calculations of the celestial immortals, without the control of the slaughter calamity, in ten thousand years there would be three thousand heavenly immortals, one hundred and twenty thousand earthly immortals, and over one million human immortals. At that point, the vital energy of the entire Xuanzheng Prefecture would be exhausted, all living beings destroyed, leaving only immortals.

Such a state naturally enraged Heaven.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws of the cosmos. Born from the earth, returning to the earth, ensuring the endless cycle of life. However, immortals’ eternal life disrupts this natural progression. There is birth but no death. If this continues, the world will be filled with immortals, and death will cease to exist.

Hence, the Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations hang ominously above the immortals, intended to reduce their numbers. But neither the celestial nor demonic sides wished to bear such great risk overhead, so the distinction between purity and impurity emerged in response.

Although ancient sects like the Cloudreach Pavilion are victims of this movement, from the perspective of Heaven and Earth, the conflict between celestials and demons results in deaths whose essences return to the world, alleviating its burden. Therefore, additional Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations are unnecessary. Instead, a man-controlled slaughter calamity replaces the natural tribulation cycle.

However, the intervals between slaughter calamities cannot be too short, lest the immortals lose their carefree nature. Thus, the four great sacred grounds agreed on once every fifteen hundred years. Usually, if three corresponding individuals from the celestial and demonic sides are slain, returning their vital energies to the world, the calamity subsides, granting another fifteen hundred years of peace.

But now, not even five hundred years have passed, and the Taiyuan Palace is once again pushing the slaughter calamity?

One by one, the immortals’ expressions turned grave. The master of Taiyuan Palace said to Zhao Shenxiao beside him, “Senior Brother, you must sense it: there is a calamity in Heaven and Earth, but it is not of our celestial or demonic way; it originates from the mortal realm.”

Speaking thus, the master of Taiyuan Palace revealed a golden mirror.

The treasured mirror rested upon auspicious clouds, shining divine light, projecting before the immortals a world within a void. Within it, the flourishing places of incense and worship throughout Xuanzheng Prefecture were shown. In these divine abodes, imperial soldiers guarded under the “Decree of the Mortal King,” suppressing the gods.

“Please, Master of Taiyuan Palace, activate the treasured mirror,” the assembly urged, their faces suddenly changing dramatically.

Within the mirror, certain gods who defied the imperial order were suppressed by dark, lacquered “totem pillars” wielded by the empire.

In a tranquil, vast lake, a divine dragon was shot and killed by mortals wielding enormous crossbows.

In a smoking, tumultuous volcano, the fire crow deity was similarly caught in a massive net and executed before all.

“What is the empire doing? Are they slaughtering gods?” the immortals expressed disbelief, some realizing, “These artifacts are the same ones the empire used against us last year? The wicked weapons granted by the demonic sect?”

The master of Taiyuan Palace exchanged a glance with an elder beside him, who then produced a proclamation and recited it aloud:

“All lands under Heaven belong to the king; all shores under the sun belong to his subjects. Now, there are many heretical and wild cults confusing the people, causing families to be torn apart and lives destroyed. His Majesty commands the establishment of the Divine Path Office to oversee all godly worship and govern the divine paths of the realm.”

Upon hearing this, the immortals coldly laughed.

Xuanzheng Prefecture bore no tradition of imperial cultivation. The True Dragon Son of Heaven, bolstered by the dynasty’s fortune, was comparable to an earthly immortal’s stature. Yet, numerous sects had many earthly immortals who cared little for this “century-old earthly immortal.” After the mortal kings passed into the netherworld, how were they any different from ordinary spirits? Moreover, when the dynasty fell, what grandeur would remain?

There are immortal beings who live for thousands of years, but no dynasty lasts a hundred generations. The earthly immortals have endured countless dynasties; if they bowed respectfully to every mortal king, they would be subjects to dozens of emperors.

“Now the gods are being subdued; next, it will be our turn!”

“The way of Heaven is impartial; the seasons run their course. Sages teach virtue and enlighten the people,” the head of the Daoist Morality Sect frowned. “Now the mortal kings forsake moral teachings and attempt to tamper with Heaven’s way to become the sovereign of all gods. This is excessive.”

“This act has angered the gods,” the master of Taiyuan Palace pointed again to the mirror. It revealed five-colored auspicious clouds in the sky, gathering the remaining deities of Xuanzheng Prefecture under the leadership of ancient gods, intent on exacting retribution, foremost among them the Heavenly Mother.

The Heavenly Mother is an ancient goddess said to have existed even before the rise of Qi Refiners in ancient times. This year, her birthday celebration was interfered with by the empire, inciting the goddess’s wrath. Other regional gods have likewise suffered interference; some had their altars shattered and temples destroyed.

Gazing at the auspicious clouds, the master of Taiyuan Palace said, “The gods unite in retribution; the empire’s mandate is imperiled. Moreover...” The mirror turned again, revealing the netherworld.

As the Golden Turtle Heavenly Official descended into the netherworld to converse with old friends, the spirits there grew furious, journeying to the Spirit Palace of the Ghost Kingdom to confront the ancestors of the Great Hong Empire.

“Heavenly gods rage, ghostly spirits grumble; the empire’s fortune wanes, and great chaos is certain within a century.”

The leader of the Supreme Clarity Sect spoke: “So, you wish to expedite the slaughter calamity to conform with the heavenly mandate? But what concern is this mortal empire of ours?”

“Indeed, we seek tranquility, requiring only one slaughter calamity every fifteen hundred years. Why meddle in mortal affairs?” another sect leader replied calmly. Surrounded by ethereal immortal energy, his natural Daoist aura resonated with celestial music within the hall.

“Because the empire’s next target is our Xuanyuan Gate,” the master of Taiyuan Palace gestured to the mirror again, which revealed the empire tearing down mountains and temples, forcing the immortals to submit and achieve unparalleled dominion.

“Hmph! A mere mortal dynasty, relying on a few demonic artifacts, dares challenge our mountain gates?” a lord of a Celestial Cavern disdainfully remarked. “Forget the thirty-six celestial caverns, even the seventy-two blessed lands are impenetrable!”

“They cannot, but the demonic sect can,” the Supreme Clarity Sect leader understood Taiyuan Palace’s intent. The empire and the demonic sect were entangled, inevitably leading to a celestial-demonic war. It was better to prepare than be caught unawares.

Furthermore...

The master of Taiyuan Palace conjured the mirror again. Inside it appeared a mortal king performing a grand ritual to Heaven and Earth.

He wore a twelve-tassel crown and a robe embroidered with mountains and rivers, standing atop a jade platform nine zhang high, reciting prayers and leading the ceremony. Yet as he prayed, dark clouds spread overhead, and a heavenly eye shed blood-like tears. Corruption followed, with sinister demonic energy engulfing the king and the altar, spreading across all of Xuanzheng Prefecture.

“This...”

The immortals involuntarily shifted, silently performing divinations.

This was a future that the master of Taiyuan Palace and several earthly immortals had calculated—a fate fifty years hence.

“An ancient demonic god?” Zhao Shenxiao pondered. “So that totem pillar the empire uses to suppress the gods is an artifact of some primordial demon? Their so-called worship of Heaven is actually worship of a demon?”

“Exactly. The empire has resurrected a demon god, turning Xuanzheng Prefecture into a demonic domain. This is the future we at Taiyuan Palace foresee. Hence, the empire cannot be allowed to remain,” the master declared. “Last year, we sent emissaries to warn them not to borrow demonic artifacts, but they denied it and accelerated their actions—a wolfish ambition indeed!”

Zhao Shenxiao said nothing, his gaze sweeping over the gathered cultivators. Each furrowed their brows, calculating the fated days together.

The future was uncertain, with countless variations. The future presented by Taiyuan Palace was but one possibility. Others speculated that the empire might succeed in harnessing demonic power to slay the immortals, then using great fortune to subdue the demon god and become the master of Xuanzheng Prefecture.

Alternatively, the demonic sect might rise, entering the Central Plains and forming a twofold power with the Xuanyuan Gate.

Or, the ancient demon god might be fully revived, jointly with the demonic sect eradicating the immortal path.

Yet among these futures, the empire’s catastrophic downfall seemed most likely. Moreover, they knowingly risked the demon god’s peril to seize its power.

The immortals fell silent, gradually understanding the Taiyuan Palace’s motive in advancing the slaughter calamity.

“The mortal empire is unstable and soon will strike at the Xuanyuan Gate—that is one reason,” the master said again. “Second, Qi Refiners have emerged, disturbing the balance between purity and impurity, violating the natural cycle.”

The leader of the Void Dao, who had been calculating the secrets of Heaven, raised an eyebrow, about to protest, but was quickly stopped by several companions.

The master continued: “Though Qi Refiners are not aligned with us, they once represented the orthodox path of Xuanyuan cultivation, a branch of our celestial lineage, incomparable to demons. Our discussions with ancient immortals are debates within the immortal path, unrelated to outsiders. To prevent the demonic sect from seizing the chance after a thousand years, we must first reduce the calamity-related karmic consequences upon us. Beyond resolving the present karmic debts, there will be another calamity in five hundred years. Rest assured, this calamity will not involve the earthly immortals of high rank.”

Originally, the slaughter calamity occurred once every fifteen hundred years to resolve karmic debts. Now, Taiyuan Palace had divided the calamity into three occurrences every five hundred years. Although more frequent, each was smaller in scale. Earthly immortals would avoid catastrophic downfall.

Hearing that the calamity would not affect earthly immortals, the celestial cultivators’ expressions relaxed. Those idle earthly immortals without sects felt reassured, for they had no disciples and thus no need to worry about their fated calamities.

However, the leaders of the great sects exchanged glances, fully understanding the true nature of this slaughter calamity.

“Is this calamity meant for our disciples?” one asked.

“Indeed. Jade, unless polished, cannot become a gem. This calamity is meant to temper them. Those who pass the tribulation will see the great Dao; those who fail will fall into the cycle of rebirth,” the master explained. Zhao Shenxiao, as the head of the Supreme Cloud Palace, seemed deep in thought.

“No matter how eloquent Taiyuan Palace’s words, they still wish to use this opportunity to send several of those cultivators to ascend,” he thought.

Though the ancient Qi Refiners’ lineage had few heirs, the secluded earthly immortals among them were profound, with Wind Qianli nearly reaching celestial status. After a thousand years, when Taiyuan Palace reckoned karmic debts, who knew how many celestial immortals would emerge?

This move by Taiyuan Palace to trigger the slaughter calamity was to assist Wind Qianli and others to ascend, allowing them to rise to the Azure Void and cease meddling in mortal affairs.

By sending away the great powers of the Qi Refiners’ lineage, Taiyuan Palace could feel somewhat assured.

After all, Taiyuan Palace prided itself as the orthodox path and would never foolishly fight the Qi Refiners to the death. Helping them ascend and leave Xuanzheng Prefecture would preserve harmony and prevent disturbance, as the Taiyuan Palace’s ancestral masters loomed above, preventing chaos.

After the discussion, the master of Taiyuan Palace produced a talisman map.

The immortal map was wrapped in golden radiance, densely inscribed with the names of many human immortals. Within Xuanzheng Prefecture, the thirty-six celestial caverns and seventy-two blessed lands, all immortal names were recorded.

“Fellow cultivators, please join me in establishing the rules of the calamity.”

The sect leaders looked at each other. The head of the Daoist Morality Sect suddenly asked, “This time, though we earthly immortals and true demons are exempt, must we resolve karmic debts?”

Earthly immortals consume vital energy for five hundred years, equivalent to the might of ten human immortals.

“It can be resolved or not—entirely up to oneself. If karmic debts are resolved, the path will be smoother, and the calamity weaker after a thousand years. If delayed to a thousand years, dangers increase. But if debts must be resolved, then the disciples must repay them,” Zhao Shenxiao reminded, “Fellow cultivators, it’s best to inform disciples beforehand, to avoid discord between master and student.”

“Regarding this, Taiyuan Palace has other plans,” the master suddenly said. “Our palace disciples will descend the mountains to face the tribulation. If any immortal sect prefers not to send their own out, they may transfer their artifact karmic debts to Taiyuan Palace, letting our disciples bear the calamity on their behalf.”

The hall erupted in murmurs.

Hearing this, Zhao Shenxiao immediately realized Taiyuan Palace’s ambition: to become the foremost orthodox school of immortal cultivation.

The leader of the Supreme Clarity Sect frowned darkly but dared not do as Taiyuan Palace did—letting one’s disciples bear others’ calamities. Regardless of willingness, this method of blocking calamities was not so easily wielded.

Each major sect had their own successors and needed no external substitutes. But the scattered immortals smiled joyously, negotiating with Taiyuan Palace’s master: “In future, we will craft artifacts awaiting destined persons. Whenever Taiyuan Palace sends someone to collect, it will be theirs.”

“Our Taiyuan Palace has thirty-six disciples descending, matching the number of heavenly stems,” the master detailed each disciple. The immortal families each selected their corresponding candidates.

As true immortal families, even when others bear their tribulations, they maintained subtlety. The scattered immortals sealed their demon-refining treasures in mountain caves, then sent Taiyuan disciples to retrieve them, nominally “gifting the destined,” but in truth, the distribution had been agreed upon at this grand assembly. The immortals indicated their chosen ones by name, birthdate, or cultivation method hints. They stopped just short of sending them directly to Taiyuan Palace.

The leader of the Supreme Clarity Sect watched coldly, lamenting within: “Taiyuan Palace’s move to win over all scattered immortals has deftly defused the assembly’s attempt to bring charges against them. It seems Taiyuan Palace’s rise is unstoppable.”