Chapter 111: The Imperial Bestowal of the Title Water Virtue Star Lord
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Chapter 111: Investiture as the Star Lord of Water Virtue
At one side of the Heavenly Court’s treasure hall, the Jade Emperor and the Gold Star Lord of Great White sat facing one another over a game of chess, chatting and laughing as they played.
Compared with the newly arrived Luo Feng, the Jade Emperor was far more familiar with the Gold Star Lord of Great White.
There was no other reason than loyalty.
Placing a black stone on the board, the Jade Emperor smiled. “In your opinion, is Daoist Tianyi’s proposal feasible?”
The Gold Star Lord of Great White pondered for a moment before answering, “This old minister’s humble opinion is that although a glimmer of light can be seen in the distance, the path ahead is fraught with difficulties.”
“Only Your Majesty can render the final judgment.”
The Jade Emperor laughed and scolded him lightly. “You truly are an old fox.”
The Gold Star Lord of Great White smiled calmly and cupped his hands.
“Your Majesty wrongs this old minister.”
The Jade Emperor smiled, set down his chess piece, and fell into thought.
Difficulties? Of course there would be difficulties.
If there were none, why would the Heavenly Court be in its present state, unable even to leave the Celestial Realm?
“Draft the imperial decree. Ah, that’s right, Great White—what is Daoist Tianyi’s full name?”
“Er… This humble minister… does not know.”
“Your Majesty, I…”
The Gold Star Lord of Great White froze for a moment, then fell silent.
Sovereign and minister stared at each other. They were nearly ready to confer an official title, yet they did not even know the full name of the future senior minister of the Heavenly Court.
What was this supposed to mean?
Immortals possessed exceedingly long lifespans, and their perception of the world differed from that of mortals. A hundred years was merely an instant, a thousand years no more than a brief interval, and ten thousand years amounted to little more than a single retreat into seclusion.
Moreover, the Heavenly Court’s reputation was insignificant, and there were not many affairs requiring attention.
The Jade Emperor had decreed that a minor court assembly would be held once every hundred years, and a grand court assembly once every ten thousand years.
All gods and immortals responsible for official duties had to attend the minor assembly, while the grand assembly was attended by the principal gods and immortals, as well as the senior ministers of the Heavenly Court.
The imperial throne rose. With his majestic Dharma form solemn and imposing, the Jade Emperor sat in the highest seat. Behind his head, a golden wheel of merit illuminated the ten directions and the three realms, penetrating the countless heavens.
The assembled immortals had long since taken their places in two rows and now filed into the hall. The civil officials stood on the left, led by the Gold Star Lord of Great White, while the military officials stood on the right, led by a Star Lord in black robes.
The Heavenly Court governed the three realms. It possessed an air of grandeur and authority that reached in all directions; naturally, it had no place for eunuchs or their kind.
No immortal would stoop to such fawning behavior, and the Jade Emperor would naturally never commit such a disgraceful act.
Outside the Hall of the Golden Mists, a golden bell rang, its clear and pleasing sound echoing throughout the heavens.
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The Heavenly Court did not require kneeling and prostration. Unless one was being punished as a criminal immortal, it was enough to bow slightly and perform a respectful salute when appearing before the Heavenly Emperor.
First, this was out of regard for the dignity of immortals. After all, the path of immortality was long, and no one could know whether some among these gods might one day attain the realm of the Grand Unity.
Second, it was also a means by which the Jade Emperor won the allegiance of the assembled immortals.
When the bell faded away, the immortals saluted in orderly succession, bending at the waist as they cried out in unison, “We pay our respects to the Heavenly Emperor!”
Their voices were vast and resounding, perfectly synchronized.
The Jade Emperor’s expression remained composed. His heavenly voice descended like the tolling of a great bell.
“Immortal ministers, does anyone have a matter to present?”
The Gold Star Lord of Great White stepped out from the ranks and bowed toward the Jade Emperor.
“Your Majesty, the wandering immortal of the lower realm, Daoist Tianyi, wishes to lead his entire sect into the Heavenly Court. We humbly request Your Majesty’s approval.”
At these words, strange stirrings arose throughout the treasure hall. Though no one spoke out of turn, many immortals who had previously kept their eyes lowered now raised their heads slightly, their expressions varying from surprise to doubt.
The Jade Emperor nodded. “Since a worthy talent has come, My heart is greatly comforted.”
“Summon him.”
In an instant, the treasure hall fell silent, and the assembled gods fixed their gazes upon the entrance.
The Jade Emperor himself had called the newcomer a worthy talent. Naturally, they had to welcome him properly. Anyone unable to understand even that much had no business becoming a god in the Heavenly Court.
Still, the immortals were curious about who had come.
Unlike solitary cultivators who had nothing left to lose and were ascending to seek office purely as a gamble, hoping to test their luck, leading an entire sect into the heavens required extraordinary courage.
Put modestly, Daoist Tianyi possessed spirit, the mettle of a hero and champion.
Put more broadly, this was a sign that the living beings of the three realms were gradually giving their hearts to the Heavenly Court.
It was a historic moment.
Following the summons, Luo Feng slowly stepped into the great hall.
When they saw that he was merely an Earth Immortal, several gods withdrew their gazes.
In the primordial world, when all was said and done, the strong ruled supreme.
A mere Earth Immortal could never amount to much.
Yet quite a few immortals furrowed their brows tightly as they studied Luo Feng. Among them were the Six Star Lords of the Southern Dipper on the left and the Seven Star Lords of the Northern Dipper on the right, all major figures of the Golden Immortal realm.
As the immortals observed Luo Feng, he too surveyed the many gods of the Heavenly Court, civil officials to the left and military officials to the right.
At the foremost position on the left stood an acquaintance of his: the Gold Star Lord of Great White, whose face wore an expression of kindly benevolence.
However, considering that he stood first on the left with no one voicing any objection—and taking into account his title of Great White—Luo Feng felt that the Gold Star Lord of Great White might just as well have stood among the military officials.
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Below the Gold Star Lord of Great White stood six immortals, each surrounded by starlight. Their cultivation was profound, and an aura of creation permeated their bodies. They too appeared to be Golden Immortals.
Luo Feng turned his gaze to the right. Most of the immortals there wore armor, and the Giant Spirit God was among them, though he stood at the very end.
At the front were seven figures dressed in Star Lord robes and likewise protected by starlight. The impression they gave Luo Feng was that their lifespans were nearing their end and that they stood before an abyss.
Golden Immortals were immortal and ageless by nature, so the notion of their lifespans nearing an end should have been laughable. Yet the seven figures on the right truly gave Luo Feng a sense of death.
“The Southern Dipper governs life, while the Northern Dipper governs death?”
Luo Feng sighed inwardly.
If his guess was correct, the seven figures on the right were the Star Lord of the Greedy Wolf of the Celestial Pivot Palace, the Star Lord of the Great Gate of the Celestial Jade Palace, the Star Lord of Prosperity of the Celestial Pearl Palace, the Star Lord of Literary Song of the Celestial Balance Palace, the Star Lord of Purity of the Jade Balance Palace, the Star Lord of Martial Arts of the Open Sun Palace, and the Star Lord of the Army-Breaking Force of the Shaking Light Palace.
As for the six figures beneath the Gold Star Lord of Great White on the left, they were the Star Lord of Life’s Mandate, the Star Lord of Official Fortune, the Star Lord of Longevity, the Star Lord of Beneficial Calculations, the Star Lord of Averting Calamity, and the Star Lord of Ascendant Birth from the First Palace of the Heavenly Treasury.
The primordial world was divided into three realms: the Celestial Realm, the Human Realm, and the Netherworld.
The great momentum of the Human Realm lay with humanity. That of the Netherworld lay with reincarnation.
And what governed the momentum of the Celestial Realm?
The stars.
The heavens contained more stars than anything else. Whoever could command the countless star deities would control the Celestial Realm.
Without making the slightest sound, the Jade Emperor had already won over a great many star deities. At least one-third of the position of sovereign over the three realms was firmly in his hands.
Such patience and such far-reaching schemes were truly admirable.
“As expected, none who can become Heavenly Emperors are simple figures.”
Luo Feng was filled with emotion, but his movements did not slow. After sweeping his gaze over the assembled gods, he strode forward, performed a great salute, and called out in a ringing voice:
“The wandering immortal of the lower realm, Daoist Tianyi, leads the Profound Origin Alliance in bowing before the Supreme Sovereign of the Vast Heaven, Golden Palace, Unparalleled, Naturally Wondrous, Mysterious and Profound, Perfect and True Jade Emperor!”
At these words, many immortals reached their own conclusion about Luo Feng.
A sycophant, they thought. He must have chosen this moment to flatter the Jade Emperor and seek refuge in the Heavenly Court.
How hateful. Why had it not been them?
Leading an entire sect into the heavens—surely His Majesty would not be stingy with his rewards.
The Giant Spirit God, however, grew more and more foolishly cheerful. With Luo Feng entering the Heavenly Court to take office, his position was certain to be secure, and the strength of his own faction would gradually increase.
Regardless of how the assembled immortals below speculated about the emperor’s intentions, the Jade Emperor merely nodded.
“By the Mandate of Heaven and in accordance with the celestial order, this decree is proclaimed: The wandering immortal of the lower realm, Daoist Tianyi, possesses both virtue and talent and embodies the will of Heaven. He is hereby invested as the Star Lord of Water Virtue of the North, who brings benefit to all things and contains true spiritual essence…”
As the heavenly voice descended, wondrous transformations and manifestations of creation sprang into being.
End of Chapter
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