Even Candle Dragon was going to accept an appointment, and the Four Dragon Kings fell silent.
It seemed that without showing sincerity, there was truly no way around it.
After all, even Candle Dragon had admitted defeat. If they refused to do the same,
things would get difficult if they were deliberately given a hard time later.
After a moment's thought,
Ao Guang spoke first. "When the East Sea accepts its appointment, we will offer one low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, a hundred chests of spirit materials, a hundred bushels of East Sea Pearls, and ten Clam Maidens.
Every ten thousand years thereafter, we will offer ten chests of spirit materials, ten bushels of East Sea Pearls, and ten Clam Maidens."
As soon as he finished, the other three Dragon Kings spoke in unison. "We'll offer the same!"
Candle Dragon frowned when he heard that. "And you call that sincerity?
At a time like this, you're still being stingy with your treasures?
Aren't you afraid you'll live to accumulate them but not live to enjoy them?
Hmph!
Make some changes!
In addition to what you offer when you accept your appointments, you'll provide two hundred thousand members of the Water Clan who have reached the Heavenly Immortal level, a thousand chests of spirit materials, and a thousand bushels of East Sea Pearls.
As for the Clam Maidens...
Offer a hundred this time.
Every ten thousand years thereafter, offer a hundred chests of spirit materials, a hundred bushels of East Sea Pearls, and ten Clam Maidens.
How else will you show the Dragon Race's sincerity?
Don't forget that Kunpeng's side can bring at least several million members of the Demon Race to the Heavenly Court this time.
The gap is too great. It won't show the value of the Dragon Race.
You know what the consequences will be.
There are two ways to end up on the table.
One is to be served up by someone; the other is to be invited to the table.
Do you want to be served up?"
At Candle Dragon's words, the Four Dragon Kings immediately shook their heads like rattles.
Served up?
That was hardly a pleasant thing to hear.
The Four Dragon Kings then replied together, "We will follow the Old Ancestor's instructions!"
"Good!
Go back and get things ready!
Once Kunpeng's side is finished, it will be about time for you to accept your appointments.
And that won't be long now."
"We take our leave!"
Time flew by.
A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day,
the weather was clear and sunny, with not a cloud in the sky.
The imposing South Heaven Gate was now crowded with cultivators.
Several million members of the Demon Race stretched far into the distance, led by Kunpeng.
On the Dragon Race's side, Candle Dragon arrived with the Four Dragon Kings,
leading tens of thousands of members of the Water Clan, right on time.
Haotian stood solemnly before the South Heaven Gate, holding the Investiture of the Gods in one hand and the God-Beating Whip in the other.
Yaochi stood beside him, while Yaoji and Tai Bai Jin Xing stood behind.
Looking at the vast throng of cultivators before him, Haotian felt his heart surge.
By all the Dao Ancestors!
From today onward, I, Haotian, will finally stand tall!
The Heavenly Court will no longer be an empty name.
It will become a true institution, capable of controlling the Primordial World.
After surveying the crowd, Haotian spoke in a clear voice. "Heavenly Dao above!
I, Haotian,
was appointed Heavenly Emperor by the Dao Ancestor.
Today, I shall appoint the gods of the Heavenly Court here at the South Heaven Gate!
Kunpeng, step forward to receive your appointment!"
At his words, Kunpeng came before Haotian.
He bowed and said, "Your subject is here!"
Haotian glanced at Kunpeng and unfurled the Investiture of the Gods in his hand.
Then he spoke slowly. "I, Haotian, in the name of the Heavenly Emperor, appoint Kunpeng as Grand Commandant of the Heavenly Court.
He will assist me in commanding the Heavenly Court's soldiers and generals, oversee matters of military campaigns, and train the Heavenly Court's forces."
Hearing Haotian's appointment, Kunpeng bowed. "Your subject, Kunpeng, accepts the Imperial Decree!
Thank you, Your Majesty, for the appointment!"
After giving thanks, Kunpeng stepped aside.
Having appointed Kunpeng, Haotian continued, "Candle Dragon, step forward to receive your appointment!"
"Your subject is here!"
"I appoint Candle Dragon, in the name of the Heavenly Emperor, as Chancellor of the Heavenly Court.
He will assist me in managing the affairs of the Heavenly Court."
"Your subject accepts the Imperial Decree!
Thank you, Your Majesty, for the appointment!"
Once Candle Dragon had stepped aside, Haotian said, "Ying Zhao, step forward to receive your appointment!"
"Your subject is here!"
"I appoint Ying Zhao as a Principal Deity of the Dou Department!
He will assist me in governing the Golden Palace, hold command at Dou Mansion, and take the foremost position among the Stars of the Heavens."
"Your subject accepts the Imperial Decree!
Thank you, Your Majesty, for the appointment!"
"Bi Fang, step forward to receive your appointment!"
"Your subject is here!"
"I appoint you as a Principal Deity of the Fire Department.
You will lead the gods of the Fire Department in inspecting good and evil throughout the Primordial World."
"Your subject accepts the Imperial Decree!
Thank you, Your Majesty, for the appointment!"
"Lei Zu, step forward to receive your appointment!"
"Your subject is here!"
"I appoint you as a Principal Deity of the Thunder Department.
You will oversee the Thunder Department, summon clouds and bring rain, nurture all living things, and punish rebels and eradicate traitors.
Establish Thunder Tribulations to test all cultivators of the Primordial World.
When any cultivator of the Primordial World enters the Immortal Dao, they must undergo the trial of a Thunder Tribulation.
Those with abundant Merit may avoid being struck by a Thunder Tribulation.
Those with neither merit nor fault will face a Three-Nine Thunder Tribulation.
Those with little Karmic Debt will face a Six-Nine Thunder Tribulation.
Those burdened by heavy Karmic Debt will face a Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation.
If any other cultivator interferes with a Thunder Tribulation, its power will increase.
At the highest level, I will personally act and use Zixiao Divine Thunder as the Thunder Tribulation."
"Your subject accepts the Imperial Decree!
Thank you, Your Majesty, for the appointment!"
"Jiu Ying, step forward to receive your appointment!"
"Your subject is here!"
"I appoint you as a Principal Deity of the Plague Department!"
"Your subject accepts the Imperial Decree!
Thank you, Your Majesty, for the appointment!"
"Gui Che, step forward to receive your appointment!"
"Your subject is here!"
"I appoint you as a Principal Deity of the Pox Department!"
"Your subject accepts the Imperial Decree!"
As Haotian busily appointed the gods, each cultivator whose Divine Position was announced sent a wisp of their primordial spirit into the Investiture of the Gods.
Meanwhile, the Primordial World had already erupted into an uproar.
First, Haotian had publicly appointed the gods, announcing to all living beings in the Primordial World that the Heavenly Court was now fully operational.
From now on, their words and deeds would all be under the Heavenly Court's supervision.
Other cultivators might be unhappy about it, but they could only accept it in silence.
But to the Six Sages, Haotian had now fully spread his wings.
It meant that he would put all the terms he had previously fought to secure into practice.
From then on, the Great Sects of the Sages would no longer enjoy the privilege of taking whatever they wanted from the Primordial World.
If they dared to overstep, Haotian would certainly deal with them.
If that were all, it still wouldn't have been enough to throw the cultivators of the Primordial World into an uproar.
What truly caused the uproar was the Principal Deity of the Thunder Department Haotian had just appointed.
Thunder Tribulations?
Only cultivators with abundant Merit were entitled to avoid them.
When the rest became immortals, the lightest trial they would face was a Three-Nine Thunder Tribulation.
Everyone in the cultivation world had descendants. Who didn't have younger generations?
Haotian was putting shackles on the cultivators of the Primordial World!
After a long while,
the appointments to the six departments of the Heavenly Court were complete.
Only then did Haotian turn his gaze to the Dragon Race.
"Ao Guang, Ao Qin, Ao Run, Ao Shun, step forward to receive your appointments!"
"Your subjects are here!"
"I appoint Ao Guang as East Sea Dragon King, Ao Qin as South Sea Dragon King, Ao Run as West Sea Dragon King, and Ao Shun as North Sea Dragon King.
They will command the Dragon Race of the Primordial World and assist the gods of the Water Department and Thunder Department in overseeing the summoning of clouds and bringing of rain."
"Your subjects accept the Imperial Decree!"
Having appointed all the cultivators, Haotian put away the Investiture of the Gods.
Then he said, "The appointments of the gods are complete. You will report the gods under your command to the Chancellor yourselves.
Chancellor Candle Dragon will report them to me for approval.
I expect you to carry out your duties diligently and fulfill your responsibilities with care.
Otherwise, I will show no mercy!"
"Your subjects obey!"
Haotian then changed the subject and continued, "Next, I will promulgate the Heavenly Rules!
The Heavenly Rules apply not only to the gods of the Heavenly Court, but also to all cultivators of the Primordial World.
The first rule of Heaven!
The Heavenly Rules have been established to maintain the stable and orderly functioning of the Primordial World.
If any rule becomes outdated or obstructs the stable functioning of the Primordial World, it will be revised as appropriate.
Any cultivator or faction that violates the Heavenly Rules is undermining the stability and order of the Primordial World.
Such cultivators and factions have already fallen into the Devil Dao and must be wiped out with the force of thunder.
The second rule of Heaven.
Immortals and mortals must not marry!
Violators will have their cultivation abolished and be reincarnated to cultivate anew.
The promulgation of the Heavenly Rules is complete. Shortly, I will have them inscribed on stone tablets at the four great Heavenly Gates.
I hope you will all heed this warning!
Do not defy the rules!
Those who do will surely be seized!"
"We humbly heed Your Majesty's instructions!"
Seeing that everything had been taken care of, Haotian finally said, "Everything is settled!
Each department will enter the Heavenly Court in an orderly fashion and begin fulfilling its duties!"
Before you continue