Chapter 670
Imperial Edict and the Reunification of Heaven
After the immortal banquet at Buzhou Mountain ended, all the gods, Buddhas, and immortal cultivators returned to their respective homes, leaving behind a plethora of rare and precious gifts that filled sixty treasure vaults.
"I wish these were all mine." Looking at the dazzling array of celestial treasures and rare gems that had just been sorted and arranged on the shelves, Wang Shu said with shining eyes.
While ordering the divine generals to assemble outside, Chi Ling said to Wang Shu, "Then you'll become the richest man in the Three Realms."
“That’s not the case,” Wang Shu laughed. “The richest man in the Three Realms has more than just these treasures.”
Chi Ling said, "My seven hundred divine generals have been busy helping you move things around for so many days, you should at least show your appreciation, right?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Shu immediately took out a jade book from her hand and said, "I've already prepared it for you. Here, I've approved 150,000 purple coins for your Zhechong Prefecture. Is that enough?"
Chi Ling took the jade book with a face full of joy and said, "That's enough, thank you, Master."
Wang Shu nodded and said, "The 150,000 purple coins have already been put in the mustard seed box, which is located in the front hall. You can take it yourselves."
"Very well." Chi Ling bowed to Wang Shu again to express her gratitude. After leaving the small pavilion, she said to the assembled generals outside, "Everyone, True Man Wang Shu has approved 150,000 purple coins for our Zhechong Prefecture as a reward for your hard work during this period."
Upon hearing this, the seven hundred divine generals below bowed in unison towards the upper floor and said, "Thank you, Master Wangshu."
Chi Ling then led everyone away from Yu Huan Tower. When they arrived at the front hall, they indeed saw a mustard seed treasure chest. Chi Ling then had everyone carry it to Zhe Chong Mansion.
They ran into the Fire Spirit Immortal halfway there, and Chi Ling quickly led everyone forward to pay their respects: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Fire Spirit Immortal nodded slightly, then asked Chi Ling, "I asked Jade Palace Tower to allocate 150,000 purple coins to your General's Office for distribution among the soldiers. Have you received them?"
"Huh?" Chi Ling suddenly woke up as if from a dream, her fair cheeks turning bright red in an instant.
Fire Spirit Immortal was quite surprised by her reaction and continued to ask, "Didn't you get it?"
Chi Ling's mouth gaped open, and after a long while, she whispered, "I got it."
"Hmm." Fire Spirit Immortal nodded, then patted Chi Ling's shoulder and said, "You've been tired lately, go back and get some rest."
"Yes, Your Highness." Chi Ling nodded repeatedly.
After the Fire Spirit Immortal had gone far away, she suddenly kicked the treasure chest and said angrily, "You, Wang Shu, dare to play tricks on me."
The surrounding generals looked at each other, none of them speaking, and none daring to laugh.
However, Chi Ling quickly calmed down and had everyone carry the treasure chest back to Zhechong Mansion. She then summoned all the divine generals in the mansion and distributed all 150,000 purple coins as a reward.
One hundred and fifty thousand purple coins, and more than seven hundred divine generals, which is exactly one hundred and fifty purple coins for each person.
Although it seems like a small amount, each of them only receives 300 purple coins per month, which is equivalent to receiving an extra half month's salary.
So what does a monthly salary of 300 purple coins mean? For example, the fasting pills that cultivators who haven't become immortals take, which can last for 15 days, cost only 3 purple coins per pill.
It's equivalent to needing only six purple coins for ordinary cultivators to cultivate for a whole month without eating or drinking, focusing entirely on their practice.
So a healing and detoxifying elixir, such as the most common 'all-purpose life-saving pill,' only costs ten purple coins.
You might wonder why this elixir is so cheap? Just look at the word "all-purpose" in its name. It can treat internal and external injuries and remove various common poisons. However, this elixir can only be used to treat minor injuries and mild poisoning. It won't be very effective for more serious injuries.
Fire Spirit Immortal returned to his Fire Spirit Palace, and as soon as he sat down, a celestial attendant served him spiritual tea.
Fire Spirit Immortal took a sip, and as the sweet and fragrant spiritual tea entered his mouth, the busyness and fatigue of the past few days finally eased a little.
Immortals don't feel physically tired, but they are mentally exhausted from taking care of all the gods and Buddhas in the sky and the immortal cultivators in the ten directions.
Just as the Fire Spirit Immortal was about to lean back in his sandalwood chair for a short rest, he suddenly heard a commotion outside, with someone exclaiming, "The sky has gotten higher!"
Upon hearing this, the Fire Spirit Immortal immediately looked up towards the outside of the hall and asked, "What is it?"
The celestial children and divine generals outside reported, "Your Highness, the sky seems to be getting higher."
"Oh?" Fire Spirit Immortal immediately stood up and flew out of the hall. She looked up at the sky and her expression turned solemn. The sky was indeed rising.
It should be known that Mount Buzhou is so high that it reaches the sky, and one can touch the first heaven with one's hand. This is by no means an empty saying. However, the universe of the first heaven is now rising higher and higher, and there is a trend of moving away from Mount Buzhou.
The people around were somewhat flustered, not knowing what had happened, but the Fire Spirit Immortal calmly said, "I'm going to take a short rest. Don't disturb me unless it's necessary."
After saying this, True Immortal Huo Ling returned to the hall, sat down in a chair, and closed his eyes to rest.
She didn't know why the First Heaven was rising, but she knew she was powerless to do anything about it. Since she couldn't control it, she shouldn't worry about it so much.
However, this anomaly did not attract much attention; only those powerful individuals noticed it.
As for the cultivators and living beings in the mortal realm, they don't care whether the sky is high or low; to them, the sky has always been the same height.
Fire Spirit Immortal slept very comfortably during her nap. She even had a dream in which she was basking in the sun in the peach grove of Lingtai Mountain, with plump, juicy peaches as her pillow.
But this sweet dream didn't last long. A divine might suddenly descended upon the main hall, and the Fire Spirit True Immortal was jolted awake.
When she woke up, she immediately realized that the divine power was none other than Zhuang Yan's divine mechanism.
Fire Spirit Immortal hurriedly stood up and looked up, only to see a divine light fall in front of her. Then a voice rang out from within the golden light: "Come to the Dust Palace to see me." Then the divine light suddenly dissipated.
Fire Spirit Immortal dared not delay and immediately flew out of the Three Talents Hall, saying to the children watching the commotion outside the hall, "I am going to the Spirit Platform Palace to pay my respects. If anyone comes to see me, let him wait inside the hall first."
Upon hearing this, the celestial children immediately bowed and said, "Yes, Your Highness."
Fire Spirit Immortal arrived outside the Dust Realm Hall of Lingtai Palace. The two attendants, Baojie and Xiuhuang, bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness, True King."
The Fire Spirit Immortal returned the greeting, saying, "I have come to pay my respects on orders."
"Huh?" Baojie and Xiuhuang, the two boys, were stunned for a moment. Then Baojie asked, "Has Master returned? When did he return?"
Xiu Huang also looked blank. "I don't know."
Just then, the palace door behind them slowly opened. The two boys hurriedly turned around and saw that the palace was filled with a dazzling light, which made the Fire Spirit Immortal and the two boys dizzy.
When the mystical light dissipated, they finally saw a nine-colored auspicious cloud above the Hall of Mortals, with Zhuang Yan dressed in a royal robe and wearing a jade lotus crown, his back gleaming with mystical light, illuminating all the heavens.
The two boys, Baojie and Xiuhuang, hurriedly ran into the hall and kowtowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty." Huoling Zhenxian also solemnly stepped into the hall, bowed to Zhuang Yan, and said, "Your subject, Huoling Zhenxian, greets Your Majesty."
Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Get up, everyone."
"Thank you, sir."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The two boys, Baojie and Xiuhuang, were filled with excitement and pride. Their master had attained the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit and become a figure like the Dao Ancestor or Buddha. Naturally, their status as boys would also rise accordingly.
Looking at the two little ones who had their heads held high, Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "You two go out and keep watch."
Bao Jie and Xiu Huang bowed and accepted the order, then turned and walked out of the main hall.
Zhuang Yan pointed to the right side of the main hall and said, "Sit."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." True Immortal Huo Ling bowed in thanks, then walked to the first seat on the right and sat down.
Then Zhuang Yan asked, "The Great Celestial Venerable has already issued an edict to merge the Thirty-Six Heavens into the Nine Heavens."
The Fire Spirit Immortal's mind raced, and he asked, "Could it be because the sky has risen so high earlier that this is the reason?"
"Yes," Zhuang Yan nodded.
The Fire Spirit Immortal was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Your Majesty, why did the Great Celestial Venerable suddenly merge the Thirty-Six Heavens into Nine Heavens?"
Zhuang Yan said, "Strengthen it. The Thirty-Six Heavens are weak and cannot cope with future shocks, so we will merge the Thirty-Six Heavens into Nine Heavens to strengthen the realm."
Fire Spirit Immortal was completely confused. Seeing that she didn't quite understand, Zhuang Yan said, "Don't worry about this for now. This is a matter for the heavens. You will know about it in time."
Fire Spirit Immortal nodded and replied, "Yes."
Then Zhuang Yan asked, "Have you chosen candidates for the various Heavenly Lords? You need to make a decision as soon as possible. How about I give you three months?"
Upon hearing this, True Immortal Huo Ling was slightly taken aback and asked, "Your Majesty, is this matter urgent?"
Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "There is no time to lose."
"Your Majesty, I understand." True Immortal Huo Ling nodded and said, "I will take care of it immediately after I leave."
Zhuang Yan nodded again and continued, "Furthermore, the Zhechong Prefecture needs to expand its membership. It must recruit 30,000 divine generals within 30 years, and only those who have achieved physical sainthood are eligible."
Fire Spirit Immortal was taken aback: "Your Majesty, now that the Three Realms are at peace, why recruit so many warriors who have achieved sainthood in their physical bodies?"
Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Since I asked you to recruit them, it must be for a reason. Don't ask any more questions. Just issue an edict to Chi Ling."
"Yes," Fire Spirit Immortal replied solemnly.
Finally, Zhuang Yan raised his hand and pointed, and instantly a golden edict flew down in front of Huo Ling Zhenxian. "After you return, proclaim this decree to the Five Sacred Mountains and all the great and small divine palaces in the ten directions."
Fire Spirit Immortal received the edict, glanced at it, and then exclaimed in surprise, "A great promotion of official ranks? The ranks of the Earth God, Water God, and Mountain God are all set at the seventh rank of Lower Yuan Immortal Officials? Those below the seventh rank are all promoted, while those above the seventh rank remain in their original positions. The eighth and ninth rank Immortal Officials of Lower Yuan are the ranks of newly recruited divine officials, generals, and ghost soldiers."
"Yes." Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "Promulgate it accordingly."
"As you command." Fire Spirit Immortal sang in obeisance, accepting the decree.
A moment later, after she had bid farewell to Zhuang Yan and walked out of the Chenhuan Palace, she couldn't help but look up at the sky.
She saw that the universe of that first heaven had risen to a height that even Mount Buzhou could hardly reach. At this moment, she remembered that the thirty-six heavens had been merged into nine heavens, and that Zhuang Yan had ordered the recruitment of thirty thousand divine generals.
"Could something big have happened?" Fire Spirit Immortal thought to herself, but her pace quickened. When she returned to Fire Spirit Palace, she found that Huang Zhoujun, Chi Ling, Tiger Vanguard, Wang Shu, Liu Yan, Hongshanjun, Lu Hanzhi and others were already waiting for her outside the Three Talents Hall.
Seeing that so many people had arrived, Fire Spirit Immortal asked in surprise, "What's going on?"
The crowd first paid their respects to the Fire Spirit Immortal, and then began asking questions about the elevation of the First Heaven.
Upon hearing this, True Immortal Huo Ling simply said, "Let's all come into the hall and talk."
After entering the Hall of Three Talents, and after the Fire Spirit Immortal and everyone else took their seats, the Fire Spirit Immortal said, "I don't know the specifics, but just now when I went to see His Majesty, His Majesty said that it was the Great Heavenly Venerable who issued an edict to merge the Thirty-Six Heavens into the Nine Heavens."
Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately began to discuss among themselves. Then, Huang Zhoujun asked, "Why merge the thirty-six heavens into nine?"
Fire Spirit Immortal said, "His Majesty only said it was to reinforce the Heavenly Realm, and didn't say anything else. You shouldn't make wild guesses."
At this point, True Immortal Huoling issued Zhuang Yan's edict elevating the ranks of the Earth God, Water God, and Mountain God, and also gave Chiling the order to recruit 30,000 divine generals.
These two edicts once again surprised everyone in the hall. "Recruiting 30,000 divine generals who have achieved sainthood in their physical bodies? What is this all about? 30,000 divine generals who have achieved sainthood in their physical bodies can sweep across any major continent, right?"
Chi Ling further inquired, "Your Highness, why is His Majesty recruiting so many divine generals? Thirty thousand cultivators who have achieved physical sainthood are not easy to find."
Faced with the murmurs of the crowd and Chi Ling's inquiries, Huo Ling Zhenxian could only wave his hand and say, "Asking me about this is useless. His Majesty did not tell me the reason, so don't ask me. Just do as I say."
Then, the Fire Spirit Immortal said to Chi Ling, "His Majesty will give you thirty years to recruit."
“Thirty years? That’s not even enough time to cultivate a physical body to become an immortal,” Chi Ling said.
But before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by the Fire Spirit Immortal, "This is His Majesty's decree, not my will. Are you trying to bargain with me?"
Chi Ling was immediately forced to submit, and could only bow and say, "As you command."
Fire Spirit Immortal then said to Wang Shu, "From now on, the amount of purple coins allocated to the Zhechong Prefecture each year will be calculated based on the actual increase in the number of divine generals each year, and it should not be less."
Wang Shu nodded and smiled, "I understand."
"There's one more thing," said True Immortal Fire Spirit. "His Majesty has instructed me to select candidates for the other seven Heavenly Lords within three months. If any of you have recommendations, please do so. However, two conditions must be met: first, they must be virtuous and of high immortality; second, they must possess sufficient prestige and strength. Anyone who meets these two conditions can submit a list of recommendations to me. Oh, and it would be best if you could submit the list within ten days."
Upon hearing this, everyone's minds immediately started racing. This was a golden opportunity! If they could push their relatives and friends to the position of Heavenly Emperor, that would be perfect.
Without hesitation, everyone bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, Your Highness."
Finally, the Fire Spirit Immortal said to Chi Ling, "The edict for 'great promotion of official ranks' has been issued. You should register the ranks of the divine generals in your household as soon as possible and then submit it to us."
Chi Ling acknowledged the order, and then the Fire Spirit Immortal announced the end of the meeting. Everyone immediately rose to take their leave and departed from the Three Talents Hall, returning to their respective divine abodes. (End of Chapter)