“Long live the great king!”
Inside the Pearl Palace, two rows of water creatures, led by Chancellor Gui and General Ao Bai, were congratulating Ao Nu.
“Hehe… My dear subjects, you flatter me…”
Ao Nu drained his cup of fine wine, a gleam flashing in his eyes: “I merely possess a modest fortune and virtue, inheriting the position of River Earl. How can I possibly become a Dragon King?”
“Your Majesty need not be so humble!”
Chancellor Gui, Ao Nu’s trusted aide who was especially adept at understanding his lord’s intentions, immediately responded: “Your Majesty is now the ruler of the three-hundred-mile Nu Long River. With the current transformation in human affairs, expanding your divine domain for a thousand miles or spreading your worship among mortals can both enhance your divine power. When your achievements are complete, wouldn’t receiving official recognition from heaven be merely a matter of time?”
“Haha!”
Ao Nu laughed loudly upon hearing this: “That may be true, but let’s not talk too much about it. Come, let’s drink heartily today—bring another three hundred cups!”
He raised his wine cup, concealing the contemplative look in his eyes.
“It’s indeed time to take action regarding the City God of Chufeng Prefecture…”
“The previous visitor brought imperial investiture… Although the Great Zhou Dynasty is in decline, the Son of Heaven remains the legitimate sovereign under heaven, theoretically possessing the authority to bestow titles upon middle and lower-ranking deities and spirits. However, should I accept this imperial investiture?”
The path of deities is arduous, often not advancing an inch even after centuries.
Imperial investiture presents an opportunity. Although not as prestigious as heavenly recognition, it still grants a certain nominal authority. Once obtained, it allows one to spread worship freely among mortals.
Of course, if mishandled, Ao Nu himself would bear the consequences.
Therefore, he still hesitated but had already leaned toward acceptance, giving only vague and evasive responses to Wu Zhi’s previous request.
“After all, what she seeks is merely causing a spring drought… This year’s water shortage in Dingzhou is indeed destined by heaven. As long as I act impartially, even if Wu Zhi governs two prefectures as a Jiedu, she won’t be able to do anything to me!”
Upholding justice and fairness!
This essentially means emphasizing procedural correctness.
Even if Ao Nu’s motives are self-serving, as long as he follows this principle, treating everyone equally and merely allowing some leniency or strictness within the bounds of the rules, he attains the Doctrine of the Mean. The so-called heavenly punishment statutes would then have no grounds to affect him.
This understanding was only achieved after he suffered a major setback centuries ago, being sealed away for a long time.
“If only Father understood this principle back then, he would never have met his demise…”
Ao Nu drained his wine: “Although the royal family has perished and the City God has fallen, it still cannot satisfy my hatred! Only when the Wang family is completely eradicated, with the souls of their ancestors forever cast into eternal suffering, will my heart find peace!!!”
“Your Majesty!”
At this moment, a water creature entered, holding a jade talisman: “The River Patrol General just returned and picked up this jade talisman, seemingly left by someone from Chufeng Prefecture…”
“Hmm?”
Ao Nu glanced casually: “It must be a plea for your lord to send rain. What’s so special about it?”
However, thinking of Wu Ming, he ordered: “Bring it here!”
“As you command!”
The jade talisman was presented to Ao Nu. Suddenly, it emitted a glow, revealing two lines of golden characters: “I summon thee; come immediately! Let it not be said that you were not warned!”
“You impudent brat!”
Ao Nu was magnificently enraged: “How dare you insult me like this?!”
“Your Majesty?”
Chancellor Gui and the other water creatures were shocked, not understanding why Ao Nu suddenly flew into such an inexplicable rage.
“This cultivator dares to speak so boldly!”
Ao Nu, angry yet amused: “He’s merely a cultivator at the Zhenren level who has gained the favor of the dragon essence, yet he dares to be so disrespectful. Does he think this Earl dares not kill him?”
With a slight exertion of force, he intended to crush the jade talisman into powder.
Being a dragon-like creature, his strength was no less than a thousand catties. However, the talisman remained completely unscathed. Suddenly, a clear light flashed, exuding an immense aura of authority that swept through like a mighty wave.
Boom!
An illusory blessed land emerged, manifesting as a powerful magical realm force, bringing terrifying majesty like a mountain pressing down.
“Ahh!”
The water creatures below cried out in pain, emitting black vapors that transformed into fish, shrimp, crabs, and other aquatic creatures, leaving a foul stench everywhere.
Only Chancellor Gui and General Ao Bai, supported by their divine positions, had not yet revealed their true forms, but they immediately knelt down.
Creak! Creak!
A tremendous sound emerged from Ao Nu’s body, like popping beans, as if he were bearing a weight of ten thousand jin—in fact, he was.
His face turned pale, as if he were squeezing out two words through clenched teeth: “An Earth Immortal?!”
The River Earl’s position was merely fourth-level in the divine path, largely bestowed by heaven, while the Earth Immortal’s position was self-attained, not only far freer but also possessing boundless power.
In times when the Immortal Path flourished, who among the immortals didn’t treat deities and spirits like servants, summoning them at will?
Boom!
The magical realm surged, suddenly displaying a golden inscription that revealed its mighty power.
Despite his reluctance, Ao Nu could only lower his proud head before this force.
Buzz! Buzz!
Seeing this, the talisman retracted its magical realm force, returning to an ordinary appearance as it floated down.
A single talisman’s might was enough to make a dragon bow and a River Earl kneel—this was the power of an Earth Immortal!
Without a Heaven’s Cave or Earth’s Blessed Land, Earth Immortals were the strongest martial force suppressing the world. If a mere River Earl defied their command, he could be killed without hesitation—what could be done about it?
“Your Majesty…?”
After the mountain-like pressure disappeared, Chancellor Gui cautiously raised his head, seeing the mingled expression of fear and anger on his lord’s face.
Although he knew speaking at this moment would only add fuel to the fire, Chancellor Gui still said: “We cannot keep the Immortal Lord waiting!”
If they truly provoked an Earth Immortal into killing the Dragon King, what would become of him, the Chancellor? This was a matter of life and death, necessitating investigation and forthright advice!
“Hmph! I am a heavenly-appointed righteous deity! He’s just an Earth Immortal in the mortal world—what can he do to me?”
Ao Nu said this with his mouth, but his body honestly transformed into a white jade dragon, flying out: “This River Earl will go reason with him immediately!”
Chancellor Gui and General Ao Bai exchanged glances, both heaving a sigh of relief…
…
Splash!
Below the Dragon Gate Gorge, seeing the surging Nu Long River turning its waters pitch-black, a Fire Phoenix Guard secretly cursed in his heart: “It’s over! Surely my future master spoke too harshly and enraged the River Earl. What shall we do now?”
He regretted not consulting his young mistress first.
“Roar! Roar!”
A dragon’s roar echoed, carrying immense majesty that made even the warhorses tremble.
In the Nu Long River, a flash of water seemed to reveal a white jade dragon’s shadow.
By the time the Fire Phoenix Guard regained his composure, a middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes had already appeared before them, his noble aura impossible to conceal.
“Who are you?”
Startled, the Fire Phoenix Guard edged closer to his two subordinates, asking blankly.
“Let’s go! Weren’t you specially looking for this Earl? Why so many questions?”
Ao Nu frowned.
Under normal circumstances, he would have punished these few for their insolence, but considering Wu Ming, he could only maintain a cold expression.
“This Earl? Looking for you?”
The Fire Phoenix Guards were stunned, unaware of how they ended up on horseback again, dazedly leading Ao Nu into the city and to the Jiedu Mansion.
“The young master is playing chess in the back garden…”
Once they reached the mansion’s backyard, the Fire Phoenix Guard led Ao Nu to the garden, who looked both sorrowful and astonished as he stepped forward.
This garden, arranged by Wu Ming, even with only slight modifications, exuded a serene beauty with its deep waters and scenic vistas, embodying the grandeur of containing the universe within a single garden, instantly refreshing one’s spirit upon entry.
Ao Nu, however, remained completely unmoved by the scenery.
Passing a bamboo grove, he saw in the pavilion ahead Wu Ming sitting cross-legged, a clear aura swirling above his head, manifesting a blessed land, with the three flowers gathering atop his crown and the five vital energies converging toward the primordial source—an unmistakable immortal appearance!
“Indeed an Earth Immortal!”
Ao Nu sighed, noticing no one else around and feeling relieved, stepping forward to bow deeply: “Little Dragon Ao Nu greets the Earth Immortal!”
“Ao Nu! How dare you act so recklessly!”
Wu Ming gently rebuked: “Violating our pact and harming allies—what intentions do you harbor?”
“Immortal Lord, please hear me out. The drought is indeed due to natural timing, unrelated to little dragon… Small deity is an imperial-invested River Earl, bound to act according to heavenly decrees!”
Ao Nu maintained a humble posture but subtly hinted that he had powerful backing.
“Heavenly Court? Heavenly Decrees?”
Wu Ming’s thoughts stirred, recalling memories of the Eastern Peak Emperor. Although from different worlds, both belonged to the upper echelons of the divine path, naturally sharing similar understandings.
He couldn’t help but smile: “Heaven and earth are impartial, treating all things like sacrificial straw dogs. Even if you are a heavenly-invested deity with golden decrees, killing you would merely incur additional calamities from heaven—I fear nothing of the sort!”
“He knows everything!”
Ao Nu’s heart trembled. His earlier mention of having backing was purely self-aggrandizement.
In this world, even if there exists a Heavenly Court and a Jade Emperor, they merely govern passively, following the principle of heaven and earth being impartial to all.
Even if Wu Ming killed him immediately, it would only add a bit more to future heavenly tribulations without immediate retribution.
But Ao Nu would die in vain!
Therefore, upon receiving the Earth Immortal’s summons, he had no choice but to come and submit!
Hesitantly, he said: “Honored Immortal, please hear me out—it was truly due to the instigation of some villains…”
Seeing Ao Nu’s submission, Wu Ming became even more convinced of his suspicions.
“Indeed, the Divine Path, Heavenly Court, and Jade Emperor exist in this world, and they are… immensely powerful, capable of ignoring changes in human affairs…”
This could be seen historically. Even as human affairs transformed and true dragon emperors ascended the throne, the first words in offerings to heaven still were: “Your servant, the Prime Minister of Mountains and Rivers, hereby reports to Heaven…” considering themselves subjects of the Jade Emperor.
“The Heavenly Court remains hidden, so absent in presence, perhaps with another meaning… maintaining impartiality and truly acting as heaven’s enforcer! Because of their selflessness, they are flawless, free from negligence in duty!”
The Jade Emperor represents the world’s position, bearing responsibility for heaven and earth.
To act with justice and impartiality, to be selfless—Wu Ming considered this as liberation from karmic entanglements. By refraining from direct involvement and merely serving as an external arbiter, one naturally avoids errors and accumulates grievances (yuan li), thereby safeguarding their position.
This was the choice of only the most wise and courageous deities!
Wu Ming felt that the divine path in this world had already matured, thus enabling such impartiality!
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