Zhang Yu stepped into the Radiant Aura River and arrived at his seat. Turning his gaze, he saw the various Tingzhi appear one after another. He first exchanged greetings with them. After a short while, the Chief Seat Daoist arrived. Once they had paid their respects, a chime rang, and he sat down together with the other Tingzhi.
The Chief Seat Daoist said slowly, "Do any of you Tingzhi have proposals to submit?"
Zhong Tingzhi picked up a jade mallet and struck it, producing a clear chime. He rose and made a clasped-hand salute. "Zhong has a proposal."
After all the Tingzhi looked over, he said, "Chief Executive, fellow Tingzhi, since Celestial Xia's battle with Upper Firmament Heaven, we have spent one year restoring order and two years recuperating. The people's livelihood is gradually recovering. Now that the external enemy is gone, it is time for us to turn toward expansion within."
Lin Tingzhi said, "How do we expand within?"
Zhong Tingzhi said, "In Zhong's view, while maintaining the existing arrangement, we should continue expanding the prefectures and continents, laying plans for the myriad generations to come."
Wei Tingzhi pondered for a moment. "Zhong Tingzhi means to add continents and expand prefectures? But the four great prefecture-continents are presently expanding outward. Is there a need to establish further continents and prefectures?"
Zhong Tingzhi said, "Zhong believes establishing further continents and prefectures is indeed necessary, but not at present. What Zhong means is expanding the central continents and adding lower continents."
"Central continents, lower continents..." Wei Tingzhi stroked his beard in deep thought.
Zhong Tingzhi looked toward the upper reaches of the river. "Zhong has reviewed the reports sent by the four great prefecture-continents over the past three years. Apart from Eastern Court, every other prefecture-continent has encountered certain obstacles.
"For