In mid-November of the 382nd year, chimes rang long and clear above the Clear Vault Cloud Sea, and the Court Enforcers appeared one by one upon the Radiant Aura River.
Not one of the Court Enforcers who had attended the previous court deliberation was absent this time; all had arrived.
The First Seat Daoist first had a Daoist acolyte distribute the memorial submitted by the Jade Capital Court to the seats of the various Court Enforcers for their perusal, then asked for their opinions.
After some discussion, they finally decided that one Protectorate Office should be expanded into a prefecture-continent in each of the four directions around the Thirteen Continents, with the remainder to be settled later.
As for the north, west, and south, the Protectorate Offices in those three directions differed little from one another, and the surviving Protectorate Offices there were relatively few. After a brief discussion, conclusions were swiftly reached. Yet when it came to the Protectorate Offices beyond the East Sea, disputes arose.
In its memorial, the Jade Capital Court had submitted five Protectorate Offices for consideration and listed the strengths and weaknesses of each. But everyone knew that three of them were merely there as foil and ornament. The true focus lay on the Dragon Fang Protectorate and the Eastern Court Protectorate.
The Eastern Court Protectorate lay at the easternmost edge of Celestial Xia's territory, guarding a stretch of land. Its importance needed no elaboration.
The Dragon Fang Protectorate, meanwhile, guarded an island pass. Beneath the island continent where it stood was a water eye. According to investigations, it seemed to contain another vast expanse within, inhabited by all manner of native alien gods. It too appeared exceptionally important.
Daoist Zhong rose from his seat at this time, made a formal salute, and said, "First