Inside the Sea God Temple, two Celestial Immortal guards stood in a corner of the rear courtyard, holding the Landscape Spirit Diagram.
If one stared carefully at the Landscape Spirit Diagram for a while, one could see that the two figures within moved like living beings, making tiny gestures such as raising their hands or cupping their fists.
Those two figures were naturally Li Changshou's Paper Daoist and Dong Mugong.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two set up several layers of Isolation Array Formations around the Sea God Temple, then entered the treasure diagram, which could shield them from immortal-sense probing and Heavenly Secrets divination.
This diagram had quite an impressive origin. It was a replica of the Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Mountain and River Diagram...
Inside the diagram, after exchanging a few words, Dong Mugong briefly explained why he had come.
"His Majesty Jade Emperor benefited greatly from his last conversation with the Sea God;
"A few days ago, when the immortals gathered at the Hall of Exalted Peace, His Majesty personally named the matter of recruiting the South Sea Sea God. An edict will arrive here before long.
"Daoist friend, from now on, you and I shall be Fellow Ministers in the Same Hall."
Li Changshou frowned slightly. "The words 'before long' can mean much or little.
"Please enlighten me, Daoist friend. Roughly how long before the edict is issued?"
"At the soonest, a hundred years. At the latest, two or three hundred."
Dong Mugong stroked his beard and smiled, though some awkwardness showed on his somewhat gaunt face.
"Daoist friend should understand Heavenly Court's current situation clearly enough.
"Most of Heavenly Court's Orthodox God positions remain vacant. Heavenly Dao's operation is practically being maintained by His Majesty alone. For an edict bestowing an official divine position