In the Purple Cloud Palace, Haotian Shangdi and Holy Mother of Yaochi were visibly excited.
Who could have imagined that they would leap from serving tea and water as attendants to becoming the supreme rulers of the Three Realms?
It was just that being supreme rulers was rather difficult...
Although the Heavenly Court had been rebuilt, it was desperately short of people.
Almost all the high-ranking members of the Demon Race's Heavenly Court had perished in the Witch-Demon War.
Some of the survivors had joined the Interception Sect, some had grown disillusioned and chosen to rule their own mountains, and only a tiny number of demon immortals were willing to remain in the Heavenly Court.
But to put it bluntly, those people were nobodies who hadn't even qualified to take part in the Witch-Demon War.
Even so, the Heavenly Court still didn't have enough manpower.
The Four Seas Dragon Kings, who had just joined the Heavenly Court, were each doing the work of ten people.
One of them summoned clouds, raised winds, brought rain, and even made thunder...
Old Ancestor Hongjun had once said that the Three Pure Ones and the other Saints would help Haotian Shangdi rebuild the Heavenly Court, but in the end, not one Saint was willing to help.
This was the matter Old Ancestor Hongjun had summoned them to the Purple Cloud Palace to discuss.
They had been so eager that they'd arrived early. The doors of the Purple Cloud Palace were shut tight, so they could only wait outside.
Screee!
A phoenix cry rang out. A streak of fire tore through the chaos, and a massive firebird appeared on the horizon.
They recognized the phoenix as the Rainbow-Robed Attendant serving Empress Nuwa, and hurried forward to greet her.
"Greetings, Senior Sister Nuwa!"
Empress Nuwa merely nodded at them in greeting, then turned her gaze in another direction.
Roar!
A dragon's roar rang out, its power far surpassing Empress Nuwa's.
Nine true dragons pulled a carriage as luxurious as a palace. Wherever it passed, lotus flowers bloomed and a rich fragrance filled the air.
The Nine Dragons Incense Carriage!
It was none other than the mount of Venerable Primordial, the leader of the Chan Sect.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Primordial!"
Haotian Shangdi and Holy Mother of Yaochi were exceedingly obsequious. After all, they were far beneath the Saints.
Venerable Primordial snorted and ignored them completely. Then he turned and greeted Empress Nuwa with a broad smile.
Haotian Shangdi and Holy Mother of Yaochi gave a bitter smile, but didn't dare voice the slightest complaint.
Their true forms had been a pair of blue stones, and only thanks to Teacher Hongjun's guidance had they gained sentience.
With origins like theirs, how could they possibly earn Venerable Primordial's regard?
The atmosphere outside the Purple Cloud Palace grew awkward at once. No one spoke again until Laozi appeared, riding a Green Ox.
Laozi was somewhat easier to deal with, but only somewhat.
Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, Old Ancestor Hongjun sat with his eyes closed. The Heavenly Dao stood before him, now in human form, though its face kept shifting.
"After the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, the Saints will no longer appear, and the immortals will retreat from the world. Those whose names are on the Investiture of the Gods will never advance in cultivation again. All beings with innate spiritual bodies will be listed on it. After this tribulation, every living creature in the world will be born with a mortal body," the Heavenly Dao said slowly.
"Are you really so afraid? You are the Heavenly Dao, are you not?" Old Ancestor Hongjun asked, watching it intently.
"The momentum of the Great Dao cannot be changed, but the Heavenly Dao can be altered in small ways. If someone capable of rewriting that momentum appears, Heaven and Earth will be unable to withstand it and will collapse. Only if every living being created by Pangu is under my control will it be safe," the Heavenly Dao replied coldly.
After the Heavenly Dao vanished, Old Ancestor Hongjun sighed.
Perhaps Ye Changqing had put too much pressure on the Heavenly Dao. He must be the person it had spoken of!
He wondered how much longer he could hold on...
The doors of the Purple Cloud Palace slowly opened, and Old Ancestor Hongjun's expression returned to its usual calm.
All the Saints except Sect Master Tongtian had gathered. It was time to discuss the Investiture of the Gods.
"Greetings, Teacher!"
The Saints, along with the two Heavenly Venerates, Haotian and Yaochi, hurriedly bowed.
"Rise. I've summoned you here to discuss the Heavenly Court. Under the Heavenly Dao, the Three Realms of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity need someone to maintain order. The Heavenly Court is weak and needs reinforcements. What do you suggest?"
Old Ancestor Hongjun looked at them below and asked.
Laozi was the first to step forward. "This disciple cultivates the Dao of tranquility and non-action, and has only one disciple, Xuandu. I fear his cultivation is insufficient."
"This disciple is willing to have his Good Corpse reside permanently in the Heavenly Court."
Grand Master Xuandu had inherited Laozi's teachings and was highly skilled in alchemy. He had been the ideal candidate in Haotian Shangdi and Holy Mother of Yaochi's eyes.
But since Laozi was willing to have his Good Corpse oversee the Heavenly Court, they seemed to be getting an even better deal.
Nuwa stepped forward as well. "This disciple is a Saint of the Demon Race, and the former Heavenly Court was also built by the Demon Race. I have no intention of involving myself again."
"Besides, I have no disciples, only a few young attendants. I can't do much to help Junior Brother Haotian."
Empress Nuwa wasn't lying. She was simply avoiding any suspicion of favoritism.
Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti replied together, "Before we attained the Dao, the Western World was destroyed by Demon Ancestor Luohu. Its spiritual energy is scarce and its lands barren, and no powerful beings have appeared there since. The two of us are powerless to help."
Even if they hadn't said anything, Haotian didn't want disciples of the Western Sect stationed in the Heavenly Court.
The reputations of these two Saints were simply too poor. He feared the Heavenly Court might suddenly change hands one day.
Once the Saints had all given their opinions, only Venerable Primordial remained, pretending to ponder the matter instead of answering.
How could Old Ancestor Hongjun not know what he was trying to do? He turned to Haotian and Yaochi and asked, "What do you two think?"
"Why not share your thoughts and let your senior brothers and sisters weigh in?"
Haotian glanced at Yaochi. The Saints already looked down on him, so he might as well offend them.
With Teacher Hongjun backing him, he gritted his teeth and spoke. "Teacher, among all the Saints present, Senior Brother Primordial and Senior Brother Tongtian have the largest sects."
"The Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect are renowned far and wide, and my Heavenly Court happens to be short twelve Immortal Leaders. Why not have them take up the posts? They would surely keep the Heavenly Court safe."
Yaochi added, "Senior Brother Tongtian's disciples are said to number ten thousand, all gathering at his court. We could have some of them join the Heavenly Court as well, and we'd certainly treat them well. It would benefit both sides. I hope you'll approve!"
Venerable Primordial sighed, thinking that he'd failed to avoid this after all. He glanced at Laozi, who smiled and nodded at him, and understood what to do.
He stepped forward and bowed. "Teacher, although I have the Twelve Golden Immortals under me, their strength is far inferior to that of Junior Brother Tongtian's disciples."
"Why not have Junior Brother Haotian go to the Interception Sect to choose people? He can have as many as he wants."
At those words, everyone present brightened. This was a perfect chance to shift the trouble elsewhere.
After all, no one wanted their disciples to be controlled by others, with even their lives hanging in the balance.
At the thought, they all turned their eyes toward the empty seat.
For some reason, Sect Master Tongtian still hadn't appeared.
"Heh heh, that's not a bad idea!"
"In that case, why not let me take over as ruler of the Heavenly Court?"
A hearty laugh came from the doorway. When everyone looked toward the voice, they saw Ye Changqing standing before them, his face pale.
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