The Number Forty-Nine, Profound Yin Banners!

Marshal Tianpeng!

The foremost of the Northern Pole Four Sages!

His status was exalted, and his authority immense!

At the end of the Dragon-Phoenix Cataclysm, the Dao and demons had contended, and Demon Ancestor Luo Hou had been defeated.

He had sworn to transform into the Outer-Realm Heavenly Devil Race, lurking beyond the Primordial World to multiply and thrive.

From then on, when the Dao waned, demons flourished; when the Dao flourished, demons waned!

The Heart Demon Tribulation encountered by living beings during their tribulations was one form of Outer-Realm Heavenly Devil.

If they overcame it, their strength would greatly advance. If they failed, their bodies would be stolen by the heart demons!

Moreover, above the Thirty-Three Heavens, demonic tides periodically erupted from the Ancient Star River, seeking to invade the Primordial World. They were a grave threat to all living beings in the Primordial World.

Thus, during the Ancient Heavenly Court, the Demon Race had established the Heavenly River Navy to patrol and defend against the Outer-Realm Heavenly Devil Race!

They had even used the stars of the heavens to set up a weakened version of the Zhou Tian Star Dou Grand Array.

Not only was its defense astonishing, but should the Outer-Realm Heavenly Devils launch a full-scale invasion, the Demon Emperor could immediately lead the Zhou Tian Demon Gods into the formation and preside over it!

The same was true under the Jade Emperor now!

Though it could not compare to its ancient heyday, it was still far from the ragtag troops of the other Heavenly Court divisions.

One hundred and eight thousand Heavenly River Navy soldiers!

True Immortals served as soldiers, Golden Immortals as generals!

There were even Grand Unity Golden Immortal-level great cultivators stationed there. It was unquestionably the Heavenly Court's most elite force!

Jiang Yun's heart stirred. He had not expected Haotian to make such a grand gesture!

After all, in later generations, the Jade Emperor had bestowed this divine position upon Xuandu's disciple of the Human Sect as a gesture of goodwill.

He immediately bowed in thanks. "This minor god, Jiang Yun, thanks the Great Celestial Worthy for his immense grace!!"

"Marshal, there is no need for such formality!"

"Today, our Heavenly Court has gained another valiant general. I ought to offer something in return!"

Haotian said with a smile, raising a hand.

Forty banners flew out.

Baleful energy billowed, and yin energy filled the air!

They were precisely forty of the eighty-one Profound Yin Banners!

They had been spoils of war obtained after the Heavenly Court sent the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden to assist in battle in the lower realm.

"This... this minor god gratefully accepts!"

With Investiture of the Gods imminent, a few hundred years was simply too short. Jiang Yun could not make any great breakthroughs in his cultivation realm in such a brief time.

But in terms of combat strength—

Thirty-six Profound Yin Banners were exactly what Jiang Yun desperately needed. With these forty added in, he now possessed forty-nine Profound Yin Banners.

That was the number forty-nine. The might of the Lunar Dark-Baleful Grand Array would surge once more!

It had to be said that, having become the supreme ruler of the Three Realms, even though he had begun as an attendant boy, Haotian was by no means the incompetent Jade Emperor people imagined in later generations.

Either he did nothing, or he did it thoroughly!

Such grand generosity and bold bearing made even Jiang Yun feel deeply grateful!

After exchanging pleasantries with the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother for quite some time,

Jiang Yun took his two newly accepted nominal disciples and, under the immortal official's guidance, bade farewell and departed.

Within the Jade Pool Mystic Realm, only Haotian and the Queen Mother remained.

"Your Majesty."

The Queen Mother parted her vermilion lips, a trace of approval in her beautiful eyes. "This Marshal Jiang is truly extraordinary."

"More than extraordinary!"

Haotian sat back down, excitement still written across his face. "This boy possesses rare talent and comprehension! His combat strength is even more astounding!"

"What is most valuable is his temperament!"

Haotian sighed. "He understands propriety and knows when to advance and retreat!"

"Today, he appeared to bow his head to me, but in truth, he had everything firmly within his grasp!"

"He knew what I wanted and gave it to me!"

"He knew what I wanted to give, and he took the initiative to ask for it!"

"Every step was perfectly measured. He made others feel comfortable, yet somehow left them with an even better impression of him!"

The Queen Mother nodded as well. "Indeed. Such a fine talent is a pity, though, to belong to the Interception Sect."

"It does not matter!"

Haotian waved his hand.

"So what if he belongs to the Interception Sect?"

"Now that he has entered our Heavenly Court and received the title of Marshal Tianpeng, he is one of us!"

"But this matter of Yao Ji—"

As Haotian spoke, his expression darkened with suppressed fury!

"I have sat upon this throne of the Heavenly Emperor for tens of thousands of years. I do not ask to restore the glory of the Ancient Demon Race Heavenly Court, but I should not at least be plotted against by a few second-generation disciples!"

"Your Majesty, you intend to?" The Queen Mother seemed to realize something.

"They have Sages to rely upon. Do we not have one as well?"

"I shall go to the Chaos beyond the realm and seek an audience with Master, asking him to uphold justice for us! If that fails, I might as well give up this throne of the Heavenly Emperor. Then you and I can live freely and happily!"

Above the Thirty-Three Heavens, the star river stretched vast and boundless.

A majestic divine manor stood at the edge of the star river, bearing the words: "Heavenly River Navy Marshal's Office."

Its bearing was magnificent, its divine might awe-inspiring.

This was the command center of the Heavenly River Navy!

Riding the Baleful Qilin, Jiang Yun led Yang Jiao and Yang Jian behind him as he arrived unhurriedly under the immortal official's guidance.

"Stop right there!"

Before they could approach, a squad of Heavenly soldiers clad in silver armor blocked their path. The leading Heavenly general shouted sternly, "The Heavenly River Navy Marshal's Office is a restricted area! Unrelated persons, withdraw at once!"

Hearing this, Jiang Yun remained seated upon the Qilin's back, his expression calm. "From the moment the Great Celestial Worthy issued his decree to the moment I arrived here, several hours have passed at the very least."

"Has your Marshal's Office still not received the decree?"

The Heavenly general froze, unable to react.

Jiang Yun had already run out of patience.

"Is it that your Heavenly River Navy has lax discipline, or is this marshal's standing insufficient for you to even announce my arrival?"

"Very well!"

Jiang Yun had come to seize authority, not to reason with them!

He would be conciliatory when the time called for it, but he also had to be forceful when necessary!

Killing!

Had always been the best way to establish authority!

Before his words had faded, the vertical eye between Jiang Yun's brows silently opened—[Yin-Yang Immortal Eye]!

Buzz—!

An incomparably profound [Postnatal Yin-Yang Divine Light] shot forth!

In midair, the divine light instantly transformed into a Yin-Yang Great Mill that blotted out the sky and covered the earth, crashing down upon the seven-man patrol squad!

"No—!"

"Marshal, spare—"

The Heavenly general's plea abruptly cut off!

Under the terrifying power of the Yin-Yang Great Mill, the seven Heavenly Immortal-level Heavenly soldiers, along with the Golden Immortal Heavenly general, did not even have time to scream before they were ground to nothing!

Body and soul obliterated! Reduced to drifting ash!

Jiang Yun's expression remained indifferent, as though he had merely crushed a few ants.

"!!!"

"Impudent!"

"Outrageous!!"

"Who dares commit murder before the Heavenly River Navy Marshal's Office!!"

The disturbance instantly alerted the entire Marshal's Office!

Woooo—!!

The alarm blared!

In an instant, thousands of Heavenly soldiers and generals swarmed out from the Marshal's Office, completely surrounding Jiang Yun!

Their killing intent surged!

"I have been appointed by decree of the Great Celestial Worthy as Marshal Tianpeng, to command the Heavenly River Navy!"

"Have the person in charge of the Heavenly River Water Palace come out and speak!"

Jiang Yun extended his right hand, a small marshal's seal held in his palm!

As his words fell!

Boom! Boom!

Two terrifying pressures, enough to suffocate anyone, erupted from the depths of the Marshal's Office!

The pure Dao aura of Grand Unity Golden Immortals swept across heaven and earth!

Divine light flashed, and two formidable divine generals clad in divine armor strode through the air!

The leading general possessed a deep, powerful aura, having already reached the Early Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage!

The other general's aura was no weaker, and his eyes gleamed sharply!