Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, Purple Cloud Palace.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun's expression was very bad at this moment. His gaze swept over the Sage present and finally landed on Nüwa.
The Great Tribulation has passed.
"Congratulations! This Great Tribulation has finally passed, and all living beings are safe. It is only right that heaven and earth celebrate! I will now shower down sweet rain to save all living beings." Xiao Tian said with a grin. As he spoke, he flipped his hand, and the power of Sage was instantly unleashed. In the Primordial World, sweet rain fell from the sky, and auspicious clouds filled the air. All living beings recovered from their hidden illnesses and injuries, and crops ripened early.
As the saying goes, all beings are equal, meaning that the evil spirits in the Underworld who have gone through the Eighteen Levels of Hell are given a slight pardon, spared from the suffering of one level of hell.
Xiao Tian's actions prompted Dao Ancestor Hongjun to have a thousand vulgar words he wanted to say.
"Dao Ancestor, in this Great Tribulation, the one who made the greatest contribution is Zhunti. Zhunti worked tirelessly to save all living beings and make the Great Tribulation pass quickly. As Sage of the Western Sect and the leader of the sect, he personally did so and deserves to be recorded as a great merit."
Xiao Tian pointed to Zhunti, who was in the next room.
Zhunti was introduced, his face turned green.
Zhunti wasn't stupid. This great Great Tribulation was too absurd; he even began to doubt whether it was just a Great Tribulation. Was it really going to end so hastily just because the Investiture of the Gods filled a gap?
Zhunti was very frustrated. He could have recruited more talents from the Jiejiao and the Chan Sect, but now he was introduced by Xiao Tian, which made him uneasy.
"Teacher, is the Investiture of the Gods considered complete?" Zhunti dared not take credit and could only change the subject.
"Perfect? Of course it's perfect! Otherwise, how could we not survive the Great Tribulation? Zhunti, are you out of your mind?" Xiao Tian glanced at Zhunti sideways.
Zhunti's face turned from green to black, and he cursed inwardly, "You bastard! You're the fool!"
At this moment, Dao Ancestor Hongjun was unable to calm down and really wanted to find someone to yell at and vent his resentment.
This isn't the script he wanted! No!
"Although the Great Tribulation has passed, there may be changes. Moreover, don't forget that Chaos Otherkind. Currently, the heavenly Chaos. The fact that this Great Tribulation ended at this critical juncture is what worries me the most."
"Teacher, is it possible that this Chaos Otherkind could trigger the next Great Tribulation?" Taiqing Laozi frowned.
Hongjun was still trying to figure out how to continue the conversation when Taiqing Laozi's words greatly inspired Hongjun.
"Indeed, Chaos Otherkind lurk in the Primordial, coveting all living beings. Although the Investiture of the Gods the Gods is comprehensive, the matter of exposing these Primordial beings must not be taken lightly."
Yes, teacher!
Hongjun took a deep breath, gazed at Nüwa, and asked with open eyes, " Nüwa, explain why you sent these new races into the mortal realm to help the Great Shang."
Nüwa remained composed and smiled, "Teacher, the people of the Great Shang worship me. Although I created the Human Clan, I still lean slightly towards the Great Shang in terms of the Western Zhou and the Great Shang's perspectives. Teacher, have I made a mistake in helping them? Shouldn't I have helped the Great Shang?"
Hongjun wanted to yell, "You've made the wrong choice! No! You shouldn't have helped! You should have just watched the show! Why did you get involved?"
Nüwa helped the Great Shang, and Hongjun was well aware that Xiao Tian was inextricably linked to the factors involved.
The Western Zhou Dynasty did indeed have a bad reputation, but the Dao Ancestor didn't care about that. In the battle between the two dynasties, all sorts of gods and immortals joined the game, just to fill the positions in the Heavenly Court. Then, for their own selfish reasons, they sent some unrelated wandering immortals to the Netherworld to get some official positions. They didn't necessarily steal the Six Paths of Reincarnation, but they did interfere to some extent.
Interfering with the Six Paths of Reincarnation is crucial, as it relates to his future liberation from the Primordial Heavenly Dao and the restoration of his freedom.
The script was originally quite good; although there were some discrepancies, it at least stayed within the outline. However, Nüwa's assistance and Daoist Cihang's intervention caused Daozu's mentality to collapse.
"He shouldn't have gone into seclusion back then! If he had followed the Investiture of the Gods from the beginning, things wouldn't have turned out this way!"
Hongjun was filled with regret and even wanted to restart the Investiture of the Gods.
But Deva Path will not allow it.
Despite its hasty and haphazard completion, the Investiture of the Gods of the Deva Path still achieved its purpose from the perspective of the Deva Path.
"Teacher, your disciple knows her mistake." Nüwa saw that Dao Ancestor Hongjun remained silent and sensed that something was wrong, so she felt a little uneasy.
"Now that everything has settled, Nüwa, you need not worry. However, the various departments of Heavenly Court cannot accommodate so many new races in important positions. We will need to find another way to select personnel for the various departments of Heavenly Court, improve the order of Heavenly Court, and supplement the Heavenly Rules."
Xiao Tian raised an eyebrow, and upon hearing this, a big idea flashed through his mind.
" The Great Tribulation, it seems, truly doesn't exist! Everything is merely the result of those in power seeking their own interests. However, there is some causal relationship, after all, the Dao Ancestor still owes the West a great karmic debt, and the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods alone is not enough to fully repay it."
"Dao Ancestor, what aspects are involved in the selection of cadres for various departments of the Heavenly Court? Can everyone participate?"
As soon as Xiao Tian spoke, the Three Pure Ones, Zhunti, Jieyin, Hongyun were startled, wondering if Xiao Tian had something in mind.
They quickly realized that the Heavenly Court was also a lucrative target, and they needed to send some of their own people in.
Hongjun looked at Xiao Tian Xiao Tian and found him very pleasing to the eye, so he directly helped him to speak.
"All officials of the Heavenly Court should be upright and honest in their conduct. Their origins need not be noble or prestigious, but their values should be sound and their conduct exemplary, as they represent the prestige of the Heavenly Court. All wandering immortals and saints in the world can participate in the selection process, but some positions are governed by predetermined karma and are determined by fate, which even Sage cannot interfere with."
"May I ask, teacher, what are these positions?" Yuanshi Haowen asked.
" The Heavenly Court is headed by the Haotian Shangdi and the Queen Mother of Yaochi Heavenly Court the first rank, commanding all the celestial beings and gods. The second rank consists of the Four Imperial Sovereigns, who assist and supervise the Great Emperor Gouchen, Great Emperor Ziwei, Great Emperor of Longevity, Heavenly Venerable Who Relieves Suffering."
"These Four Imperial Sovereigns are determined by chance, emerging from among all living beings in response to circumstances."
Xiao Tian was inwardly surprised. The Four Imperial Sovereigns held considerable power; were they truly chosen in response to a changing era?
"Dao Ancestor, since the Heavenly Court is the official institution that oversees the holy gods of the world, we should rightfully occupy a place to enhance Heavenly Court prestige. Of course, I won't insist on being one of the Four Imperial Sovereigns; any idle position will do."
Upon hearing Xiao Tian's words, the Three Pure Ones immediately seized the opportunity.
"Teacher, Xiao Tian is absolutely right!"
"That's only right!" Zhunti said righteously, without even blushing.
Hongjun almost laughed. After careful consideration, he realized that the Heavenly Court was indeed lacking in prestige. In any case, he didn't care about it anyway, as it was only meant to provide a place for the two young disciples to settle down and make a living.
"This matter can be discussed between the Sages and Haotian and Yaochi. There is nothing else to discuss. Sages, you may disperse."
"Teacher, goodbye."
"Fellow Daoist, farewell."
After leaving Purple Cloud Palace, Nüwa transmitted her voice to Xiao Tian: "Come to my place later."
Xiao Tian's body trembled involuntarily.
"Hey sis, why don't you go work for Haotian and take a cushy job where you don't have to work for anyone?"
"Not interested." Although the Nüwa in the Purple Cloud Palace did not say it directly, Nuwa was dissatisfied with her sending an army of figurines to help the Great Shang, which made the Great Tribulation pass by in a ridiculous way. She had a slight shadow in her heart and decided not to listen to Xiao Tian, this troublemaker, to get involved in the mess again. She did not have such a strong foundation.
"Alright, everyone, let's go and put some pressure on that brat Haotian. We can't waste those peaches." Xiao Tian said with a grin to the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, Zhunti, Hongyun.
Zhunti's lips twitched; he almost exclaimed that Zhunti was a professional, as Zhunti had the same idea.
Zhunti sighed inwardly, "If it weren't for the irreconcilable grudge between me and Xiao Tian, we could easily become sworn brothers. He's just my type."
"Fellow Daoists, I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first." Hongyun departed.
The Heavenly Court, the Yaochi Imperial Garden.
Haotian sighed inwardly, "No wonder my eyelids were twitching so badly; it turns out several Sage have arrived. I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse."
"Fellow Daoists, what business do you have with me? Speak frankly."
Although Haotian is Quasi-Sage, he holds the position of Heavenly Emperor and can sit on equal footing with Sage.
" Haotian, we're here to congratulate you," Xiao Tian chuckled.
"Congratulations?" Haotian almost cursed. After obtaining the Investiture of the Gods, he saw that they were all Golden Immortal level dolls, and they all seemed to be new races created by Nüwa. His face turned green on the spot, and he imagined that the great gods of each department were all fist-sized doll figures with solemn faces but cute and comical appearance.
The scene reappeared in his mind, and Haotian couldn't help but feel a pain in his kidneys.
Xiao Tian, Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti are all Sage; how could they not see the hidden meaning in Haotian's eyes?
" Haotian, after we left Purple Cloud Palace, the Dao Ancestor stated frankly that the officials of all departments of the Heavenly Court will be re-selected, among whom the Four Imperial Sovereigns will be appointed by Heaven and born in response to the times."
Upon hearing this, Haotian was overjoyed, but thinking of those troublesome doll-like creatures and how Yaochi spent her days playing with them, he quickly asked, "Then how should we place these new races created by Nüwa?"
Xiao Tian Xiao, "The Dao Ancestor said that some can be kept, given to heavenly generals, left idle, or gathered together to cause trouble on their own. The rest can be sent down to the mortal realm, released into the world, so that these new lives can flourish and spread."
"Then we shall do as Sage Xiao Tian says."
"Ahem, Haotian, you'd better come up with a good plan for the new selection process. The main purpose of the few of us here is to help you keep things under control."
"To keep things under control?" Haotian almost showed his true colors. He could tell at a glance that this guy was here to freeload and, incidentally, to keep an eye on him and see what kind of mischief he was up to in Heavenly Court.
Haotian sighed inwardly, feeling utterly stifled in his position as the ruler of Heaven and Earth! Without becoming Sage, he was ultimately just an ant.
"Please tell me frankly, which part do you fancy?"
Xiao Tian rubbed his hands together and laughed, "I wouldn't say I've taken a liking to it. I've heard that tending to the Peach Garden is quite troublesome, and I love eating peaches, so leaving one of my avatars as the land deity of the Peach Garden will suffice."
Haotian really wanted to say no.
" Your Sage Xiao Tian, Peach Garden is managed by Yaochi, so I must consult her opinion."
"Alright, I'll have her come."
After Xiao Tian finished speaking, he pointed his finger at the void, and the next second, ripples spread through the space. The Queen Mother of Yaochi, who was completely bewildered and whose shoulders were covered with cute figurine creatures, appeared.
Haotian was stunned by Xiao Tian's move.
In the blink of an eye, the Queen Mother of Yaochi, a Peak Quasi-Sage, was unable to resist and, unaware of the situation, was transferred to this imperial garden.
"His Majesty."
"Fellow Daoists, what is this?" The Queen Mother of Yaochi quickly removed the figurine from her shoulder.
These lifelike figurines, laughing and hopping, came to Xiao Tian's feet.
"Kids, did you have fun?"
"Father God, this place is so much fun!"
Haotian, Yaochi, the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin Zhunti: "..."
Zhunti a sense of collapse, realizing that Xiao Tian was behind this Great Tribulation calamity.
"Ahem! Don't shout, everyone, don't misunderstand, they're not my children."
The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin and Zhunti, as well as Yaochi Haotian, gave us knowing looks.