Chapter 671
Tian Shu Province
Liu Yan and Hu Xianfeng were drinking tea in the Sancai Hall. They had come on the orders of the Fire Spirit True Immortal, but the Fire Spirit True Immortal had not yet appeared.
Just as the two were drinking tea and chatting, another figure walked in from the entrance of the main hall.
Liu Yan and Hu Xianfeng turned their heads and looked over, then their faces showed surprise. They immediately stood up and laughed, "Oh, Master Huang Feng is here too?"
The Great Sage Huang Feng stepped forward with a smile and greeted them, saying, "Master Liu, Brother Hu, how have you been lately?"
"It's alright," Liu Yan said with a smile, "It's just that I've been a bit busy lately."
The Great Sage Huang Feng laughed and said, "His Majesty has just taken over many powers from the Five Sacred Mountains and placed them under the jurisdiction of the Jade Palace in the Mortal Realm. It's certain that there will be a lot of things to do."
Tiger Vanguard said, "I'm quite free, and there's no merit to be assessed in the Merit Evaluation Office. But why aren't you enjoying yourself in Lingtai Mountain? What are you doing here in Buzhou Mountain?"
The Great Sage Huang Feng said, "It was His Highness the Fire Spirit who ordered me to come here to discuss matters."
"Oh?" Liu Yan and Tiger Vanguard exchanged a glance, then invited Great Sage Yellow Wind to sit down, and the fairy boy beside them quickly served Great Sage Yellow Wind spiritual tea.
Just as the Great Sage Yellow Wind took a sip of tea, the True Immortal Fire Spirit walked in from behind the screen at the back of the hall.
The three quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness, the True King."
Fire Spirit Immortal walked up to the throne and sat down, then smiled at the three of them and said, "No need for formalities, please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Highness." The three bowed in thanks and slowly took their seats.
Fire Spirit Immortal looked at the three of them, his gaze suddenly becoming profound. He first stared at Liu Yan and said, "If we're talking about seniority, Liu Yan, you're more senior than me. Back when the Human Realm Department still existed, you were already a Celestial Official, weren't you?"
Liu Yan smiled and said, "Your Highness, at that time I was just a minor official. In terms of seniority, I wasn't much higher than Your Highness."
Fire Spirit Immortal laughed and said, "That's not necessarily true. When I first followed His Majesty, your official rank was already quite high. Over the years, you have worked hard and diligently, obeying orders day and night. You have made great contributions and endured hardships."
Liu Yan hesitated for a moment, not understanding why the Fire Spirit Immortal would suddenly say these things.
Seeing Liu Yan's hesitant expression, True Immortal Huo Ling immediately smiled and said, "Master Liu, don't be nervous. I'm telling you this for no other reason than to discuss your merits."
"Regarding merit?" Liu Yan was stunned, then said, "What does Your Highness mean?"
Fire Spirit Immortal laughed and said, "What I mean is, I'd like to change your job. Please don't refuse."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yan immediately replied, "I am a celestial official of the Heavenly Court. If Your Highness issues an order for me to charge into battle, I will not hesitate to do so."
"Hahaha." True Immortal Fire Spirit laughed, "How could I let you charge into battle? It is this that I intend to make you the 'Northern Primordial Heavenly Lord'."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yan's pupils contracted, and he quickly said, "Your Highness, what virtue or ability do I possess to be worthy of the position of the Northern Heavenly Lord?"
Fire Spirit Immortal said, "You have followed His Majesty since the time of the Human Realm, and you have made great contributions and endured many hardships. How can you not be worthy of the position of Northern Heavenly Lord? Please do not be modest."
Liu Yan took a deep breath; the position of the Northern Heavenly Lord was a huge leap forward.
Although he is currently a fifth-rank celestial official, he is only the head of the Heavenly Law Academy. However, once he becomes the Northern Heavenly Lord, he will have officially completed the leap from a mid-level celestial official to a high-level celestial official.
Liu Yan's breathing became rapid. This might be the greatest opportunity he would have in the next thousand years; if he missed it...
Thinking of this, Liu Yan took another deep breath, then stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness thanks me for your promotion."
Fire Spirit Immortal nodded in satisfaction and said, "Please rise."
Liu Yan bowed in thanks and rose. Then, the Fire Spirit Immortal called out to Tiger Vanguard and Yellow Wind Great Sage, "Tiger Great, Yellow Wind Great Sage." The two responded and rose, cupping their hands in greeting, "Your subject is here."
Fire Spirit Immortal said, "You two have followed His Majesty for a long time. If I were to entrust you with an important task, would you dare to accept it?"
Tiger Vanguard and Yellow Wind Great Sage were moved and immediately cupped their hands and said, "Please give your orders, Your Highness."
Fire Spirit Immortal said, "Tiger, I hereby appoint you as 'Grand Commandant of Suppressing Calamities,' promoting you to the fifth rank of Zhongyuan Immortal Official, and send you to serve in the Zhechong Prefecture. Yellow Wind, I hereby appoint you as 'Grand Commandant of Zhangtian,' promoting you to the fifth rank of Zhongyuan Immortal Official, and send you to serve in the Zhechong Prefecture."
Tiger Vanguard and Yellow Wind Great Sage immediately bowed and said, "We will obey Your Highness's decree."
The Fire Spirit Immortal then issued an imperial edict bestowing titles and rewards, which were promulgated throughout the ten directions. Liu Yan was promoted to the fourth rank of the Central Yuan Immortal Official and appointed as the Northern Polar Yuan She Tianjun.
Tiger Vanguard and Yellow Wind Great Sage both became Grand Commandant of Zhechong Prefecture, promoted to fifth-rank celestial officials, and went to Zhechong Prefecture to take up their posts.
The Zhechong Prefecture was reorganized by Zhuang Yan's decree and renamed "Tianshu Dusheng". It was placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Emperor of the Human World and was led by the "Grand Master" of Tianshu Dusheng. Under him were three Grand Commandants: Zhechong, Zhen'e, and Zhangtian, each personally leading ten thousand divine generals.
At this moment, Grand Commandant Chi Ling, Grand Commandant Hu Xianfeng, and Grand Commandant Huang Feng Dasheng were all standing in the main hall. The reorganization of Zhechong Prefecture made the three of them realize something.
That means something big is probably going to happen in the Three Realms, otherwise Zhuang Yan wouldn't have been in such a hurry to recruit soldiers and expand the Zhechong Prefecture into a province.
It should be noted that the Tian Shu Du Province is at the same level as the Tian Ting's Tai Xuan Du Province, second only to the Three Great Jade Palaces. The Three Great Jade Palaces are: Shen Xiao Jade Palace, Shen Lei Jade Palace, and Chen Huan Jade Palace.
Therefore, expanding Zhechong Prefecture into Tianshu Province was clearly a preparation for a major upheaval or a major war.
"But who will be the chief envoy of the Heavenly Pivot Province?" the Great Sage Huangfeng asked with some doubt.
Chi Ling said, "There are very few people in the Heavenly Court who can command the Tian Shu Province."
Tiger Vanguard said, "They should have sent people down from the sky. It could be the three True Lords, or even the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King and his people."
As soon as Tiger Vanguard finished speaking, a divine voice emanated from the direction of Lingtai Palace, quickly spreading throughout the entire Buzhou Mountain: "By order of Heaven, the Heavenly Venerable Lingtai Dongming Zhilu Tianzun, the Great Emperor of the Three Realms, who assists the Divine Firmament Emperor, hereby confers upon Erlang Shen the title of 'Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun Fuyou Zhaohui Rensheng Zhenwang,' appointing him as the 'Grand Envoy' of the Tian Shu Du Sheng, and promoting him to the second rank of Shangyuan Immortal Official, as decreed!"
Upon hearing this edict, Chi Ling, Tiger Vanguard, and Yellow Wind Great Sage all breathed a sigh of relief. Chi Ling, in particular, said, "If Erlang Zhenjun were to be the mastermind behind this, I would have nothing to say."
Tiger Vanguard and Yellow Wind Great Sage nodded in agreement. Erlang Shen indeed had the strength and qualifications to lead the Tian Shu Province.
After Zhuang Yan issued the imperial decree to bestow titles upon Erlang Shen, Huo Ling Zhenxian, in the name of the Chenhuan Yufu, further bestowed upon Xiaotianquan the title of "Assistant Saint Marquis," promoting him to the sixth rank of the Zhongyuan Immortal Official.
At the same time, the Six Saints of Meishan were promoted to the sixth-rank immortal officials of the Zhongyuan era, and each was given the title of "General of the Six Saints".
Afterwards, Zhuang Yan personally hosted a banquet, inviting everyone to Lingtai Palace to welcome Erlang Shen and the others.
Erlang Shen has always been the type to obey orders but not summons in Guanjiangkou, but this time he is willing to come to the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm to take charge of the Heavenly Pivot Province, all because of Zhuang Yan's influence.
Once you agree to take on the position of Grand Envoy of Tian Shu Province, there will be no more "obeying orders but not summons"; instead, you will have to act according to Zhuang Yan's will.
Therefore, Erlang Shen is very generous and righteous. He not only came by himself, but also brought his six brothers and Xiaotian Dog with him.
Therefore, based solely on this sentiment, Zhuang Yan personally hosted a banquet to entertain Erlang Shen and his companions.
After the celestial banquet concluded, Erlang Shen, accompanied by Chi Ling, Tiger Vanguard, Yellow Wind Great Sage, Howling Celestial Dog, and the Six Sages of Meishan, traveled to the Tian Shu Capital Province to officially begin fulfilling his duties and mission as the Grand Envoy of the Tian Shu Capital Province. (End of Chapter)