The Tianyi Dejun, also known as the Tianyi Nobleman, is someone who steps forward in critical moments, offering the helping hand of a noble patron, aiding Shui Miao.
“Alright, since it’s come to this, I shall forge a set of chessboard arrays for each of you.”
Shui Miao felt extremely delighted.
What pleased Shui Miao most was not only receiving help from Tianyi Dejun, but also gaining a group of good friends.
“Great! Wonderful!”
“Haha, with even more powerful magical treasures, we’ll have more confidence when we speak.”
“Yes, indeed! Brother Shui Miao is truly the savior of our Immortal Realm!”
“…”
Everyone was excitedly discussing, and with this, success seemed assured.
However, Shui Miao suddenly recalled Xuan Kong’er, the extraordinary forging genius from the Demon Realm. If Xuan Kong’er were to confront him on behalf of the Demon Realm, it would indeed become a serious problem.
Therefore, Shui Miao shared his concerns with everyone.
Upon hearing this, everyone expressed their willingness to support Shui Miao in dealing with the ancient immortals, urging him to create an unprecedented magical treasure within the Tower of Time to counter Xuan Kong’er and the powerful beings of other realms.
Hearing this, Shui Miao suddenly found the idea quite reasonable, even urgent.
With the massive supply of materials provided by Tianyi Dejun, Shui Miao immediately began forging.
Putting aside Shui Miao’s forging of a large magical treasure for now, several city lords jointly decided that Tianyi Dejun and Wenchang Dijun should first go to the Immortal and Mortal Realms to seek out talents and cultivate them. On the heavenly court’s side, Chongyuanzi would take the lead, accompanied by Shuitianyi Holy Mother and Xingtian Dazun, to handle major affairs and deal with the ancient immortals.
The Punishment City and Origin City were two major departments of the heavenly court, overseeing many immortal officials. Origin City was in charge of the distribution and supply of water and spiritual energy across the three realms, including matters like sweet dew, rain, and snow. Punishment City was responsible for monitoring, punishment, rewarding good deeds, punishing evil ones, enforcing heavenly laws and regulations. Xingtian Dazun commanded heavenly soldiers and generals, wielding great power, making it the most effective department against the ancient immortals.
Now that everyone was united with a common ideal and goal, they worked with even more vigor and enthusiasm.
To prevent potential threats and seize the initiative, Leibu Dazun Chongyuanzi then left Xingtian Dazun and Shuitianyi Holy Mother in charge of the current realm. Chongyuanzi himself mobilized personnel from the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion, the Thirty-six Divisions, the East and West Hua Tai, Xuan Pavilion Miaoge, and the Four Mansions and Six Colleges, forming thirteen principal Thunder Enforcement Deities, thirty-six Punishment Deities, and seventy-two Heaven-slaying Deities. Together, they headed to various layers of the Immortal Realm to adjust personnel arrangements, balance the power of major sects, and reinforce the authority of the heavenly court.
First, Leibu Dazun, accompanied by his subordinates, arrived at the Second Heaven to restore order, mobilizing twenty thousand heavenly soldiers and generals. They proceeded to the Third Heaven, where they again mobilized twenty thousand heavenly soldiers and generals before heading to the Fourth Heaven…
※※※
The Nine Heavens of the Immortal Realm
With the whereabouts of Kunpeng Xian Di unknown, the major sects were leaderless, and the order was extremely chaotic.
Suddenly, thunder rolled across the sky, the heavens and earth changed color, and red punitive clouds churned, turning the sky a single hue.
One hundred and forty thousand heavenly soldiers and generals descended, quickly restoring order to the major sects under the guidance of Leibu Dazun, with all disturbers of the peace executed.
Chongyuanzi’s efficiency was extremely high.
His campaign was like a fierce wind sweeping away fallen leaves, his mighty aura stabilizing the heavens and earth.
The entire Immortal Realm was placed under martial law, with millions of heavenly soldiers and generals maintaining order. The major sects were quickly subdued and dared not act recklessly.
The small gates on the east, west, and north sides of the Ninth Heaven were all closed, with only the South Heaven Gate open.
Chongyuanzi deployed his forces, dividing nine principal Enforcement Deities, thirty-two Punishment Deities, and fifty-six Heaven-slaying Deities into nine groups, each leading ten thousand heavenly soldiers and generals to patrol the Nine Heavens, commanding the heavenly soldiers and generals, maintaining order, and ensuring everyone performed their duties. Chongyuanzi himself led the remaining four Enforcement Deities, four Punishment Deities, and six Heaven-slaying Deities, commanding the remaining fifty thousand heavenly soldiers and generals to guard the South Heaven Gate.
Just after Chongyuanzi had restored order and settled the troops, a group of immortals arrived at the South Heaven Gate.
This group numbered more than thirty, mostly soldiers and generals, with only five or six dressed as Taoist priests.
Among them, one immortal general was particularly striking—tall and strong, with red lips and white teeth, wearing golden armor. His thick eyebrows were like ink-drawn swords, and his eyes radiated an intense, penetrating light. Between his brows was a red vertical eye shaped like a flame. Beside him was a tall, thin, black dog.
“Is that Erlang Shen and the Howling Heaven Hound?”
“Have the ancient immortals really returned!?”
At the South Heaven Gate, two Punishment Deities saw the newcomers, and one immediately went to inform Chongyuanzi.
As this group of immortals approached the South Heaven Gate, they were blocked by a group of heavenly soldiers and generals.
“This is sacred territory of the heavenly court, unauthorized entry is forbidden! Who are you people?”
The leader of the heavenly soldiers was a tall and strong Enforcement Deity, a straightforward and rugged figure, specially arranged by Chongyuanzi to impersonate an immortal general.
“No misunderstanding, no misunderstanding…”
From the group, the five or six Taoist priests quickly stepped forward. An elder Taoist priest took out a jade tablet and said, “I am Piaomiao Zhenren from Jiuhua Mountain. The others behind me are also ancient immortals who have been hiding in the Mortal Realm. That tall figure is Erlang Zhenjun himself!”
“Erlang Zhenjun?”
The Enforcement Deity immediately frowned, sternly shouting, “What audacity! Daring to deceive this general! Erlang Zhenjun perished long ago during the Immortal-Demon War. How dare you impersonate ancient immortals! Come forth! Seize these malicious immortals!”
“Understood!”
Instantly, numerous heavenly soldiers and generals flew out, surrounding the group of ancient immortals.
Erlang Zhenjun immediately became furious, rushing forward and shouting at the Enforcement Deity, “Have you gone blind, not even recognizing me!?”
“Boom!”
The Enforcement Deity raised his hand, and a trigrams mirror in his palm emitted a bolt of lightning, directly striking Erlang Zhenjun!
Hit by the lightning, Erlang Zhenjun exploded, his body thrown backward dozens of meters.
Seeing this, the other ancient immortals were immediately frightened.
“Hmph! I knew you were demons all along.” The Enforcement Deity waved his Bagua mirror, “This is a magical treasure for slaying demons. I’ve already sensed the demonic aura around you. This demon-slaying mirror has no effect on ordinary immortals, but you—dare to intrude upon the heavenly court! Seize them all!”
The Enforcement Deity issued the order again, and the heavenly soldiers and generals acted in unison, easily capturing the group of ancient immortals.
These ancient immortals were escorted by the heavenly soldiers and generals to the heavenly prison.
Not far from the South Heaven Gate, there was a newly appeared Thunder Jade Mansion. Inside the mansion, in front of Chongyuanzi, a mirror displayed the scene of the Enforcement Deity capturing the ancient immortals. After watching it twice, Chongyuanzi looked at the three Enforcement Deities beside him and ordered, “You three go and interrogate these demons to find out who they really are.”
“Lord Dazun, may we use torture?”
One Enforcement Deity asked hurriedly.
Chongyuanzi sneered coldly, “Why not? They’re not real ancient immortals, just a bunch of demons.”
“But Lord Dazun, what if they are reincarnated souls of the ancient immortals?” another Enforcement Deity questioned.
Chongyuanzi looked impatiently at the Enforcement Deity, “That’s why I want you to interrogate them. As for what to do next, decide after the interrogation. And if they are indeed demons, execute them on the spot.”
“Understood!”
The three Enforcement Deities immediately accepted the order and left.
They didn’t know what major event had happened today that caused Lord Dazun to mobilize everyone and come to the Ninth Heaven to interrogate a few demons.
After the three Enforcement Deities left, Chongyuanzi stroked his beard in thought. For some reason, he felt a very ominous premonition.
“Report… Lord…”
A Heaven-slaying Deity rushed in, “Lord, there’s another group of ancient immortals outside, and they look exactly like the ones we just captured!”
“What?!”
Upon hearing this, Chongyuanzi was greatly startled.
Chongyuanzi quickly activated the Refractive Mirror and saw the scene on the mirror. Indeed, this group looked exactly the same as the previous ones, and even said the exact same words.
How could this be?
Could someone be deliberately mocking us?
Impossible!
I reacted so quickly and have already restored order in the heavenly court. How could this happen?
After a moment’s thought, Chongyuanzi immediately said, “Issue the order: if you encounter such demon immortals again, annihilate them all immediately!”
“Understood!”
The Heaven-slaying Deity quickly flew off.
Chongyuanzi then summoned a messenger and said, “Quickly go to the heavenly prison and inform the Enforcement Deities. No need for interrogation anymore—execute them on the spot. Also, issue an order immediately to strengthen the defenses at the three minor heavenly gates. Whoever tries to pass, kill without mercy.”
“Understood!”
The messenger immediately accepted the order and left.
Chongyuanzi’s thoughts raced, and he muttered to himself, “It seems these ancient immortals are highly suspicious. Not only are they hiding their identities, but they’re even using such methods to test us. If they were genuine ancient immortals, they would never do this. So, who exactly are they? No, I must go back once and have Shui Miao use the Celestial Mirror to see what they’re really up to.”
Thinking back and forth, feeling uneasy, Chongyuanzi decided to use the Heaven-dodging Talisman to return once.
“Report…”
Just as Chongyuanzi took out the Heaven-Dodging Talisman and was about to leave, another Heaven-Slaying Deity hurriedly rushed over, saying, “Lord Dazun, you must come and see for yourself! Outside the South Heaven Gate, hundreds of immortals have arrived. Even the Jade Emperor, Queen Mother, Taishang Laojun, and General Tuota Tianwang are all there! Moreover, even… even your father…”
“What? My father!!”
Chongyuanzi was startled again, quickly turning around and activating the Refractive Mirror with his magic power. He saw a crowd gathering outside the South Heaven Gate, with numerous ancient immortals gathering from all directions. Among them was an immortal with white hair and a rosy complexion, wearing white robes—his own father!
“No! This can’t be real!”
Chongyuanzi became emotionally agitated, “My father passed away long ago. This must be the work of demons, definitely!”
Chongyuanzi roared hysterically, yet deep inside, he desperately hoped his father was truly still alive.
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