Once the celestial envoy finished proclaiming the imperial decree, Huang Tian received it from his hands.
"True Lord, there are also a dharmic seal and a dharmic whip bestowed upon you," the celestial envoy said politely.
Two lovely female cultivators at the Yang Spirit realm stepped forward from behind him. One held a seal that radiated a faint, delicate luster, while the other carried a long whip. Deep black in color, the whip exuded an aura of dignified solemnity; it was a sixth-rank dharmic treasure.
That it was not a seventh-rank immortal treasure was entirely natural. Treasures of that grade were mostly in the hands of Heavenly Immortals and mighty Golden Immortals, or had already been fused into someone's being to ascend the immortal path.
Huang Tian first took the dharmic seal and hung it at his waist. Instantly, his garments transformed, draping him in a mysterious black dharmic robe. With only a brief probe of his senses, he knew this robe could ward off water, dust, and fire.
Next, he took the dharmic whip. It felt light as a feather in hand, yet in truth was as heavy as a thousand mountains. Were it swung downward, an ordinary Great Ascension cultivator would be wounded by a mere graze and killed by a direct strike.
Seeing the youthful True Immortal before him don the dharmic robe and equip the whip, looking dignified and magnificent, the celestial envoy smiled warmly. "True Lord may bid farewell to your masters and fellow disciples. This humble official shall wait here."
"Much obliged."
Huang Tian thanked him and flew back down to Xuandong Mountain. The disciples within the mountain immediately grew excited, their eyes lighting up one after another.
"Senior Brother Huang already had a countenance of gold and jade, but now, robed in immortal garments and bearing the dharmic seal, he looks even more dignified and transcendent!"
"True Lord of Demon-Quelling in the South! Judging by this honorific, aren't all demon-quelling affairs across our Southern Jambudvipa Continent under Senior Brother's command?"
"Presumably so! I hear the Heavenly Court established posts for True Lords of Demon-Quelling in Dong Shengshenzhou, Xi Niuhezhou, and Bei Juluzhou, leaving only our continent vacant. Who would have thought Senior Brother would receive this post? It carries tremendous authority—a command of a hundred thousand heavenly troops! Devils, demons, and heterodox paths will tremble at the very sound of his name!"
"Speaking of which, now that Senior Brother has a heavenly post, could we serve under his banner as minor generals in the future?"
"Naturally! Among the immortals of the four directions, who doesn't use their own people to get things done? If they aren't your own, how could you rest easy? Still, our cultivation falls a bit short. We would at least need to enter the Yin Spirit realm. If one is merely at the Golden Core realm, they could only go up to heaven as a common foot soldier. For such a post, how could I have the gall to beg Senior Brother? It would only invite ridicule and make him lose face."
"..."
The fellow martial brothers and sisters chattered excitedly, believing that with Huang Tian becoming an immortal official, they might also ascend to the heavens one day as minor soldiers and generals. Although such positions in heaven amounted to mere underlings driven by superiors, to heterodox Daoists and rogue cultivators of the mortal realm, it was already an enviable prospect.
It was good to enjoy the shade beneath a tall tree! As a heavenly soldier, one drew a regular stipend—was that not far better than aimlessly scouring the mortal world for fortuitous encounters while squandering one's prime years?
Besides, with a big shot like Senior Brother Huang as their backer, even if they didn't throw their weight around to bully others, they at least wouldn't be bullied or pushed aside, and no one would dare snatch the merits due to them. That was already wonderful enough!
Listening to his fellow disciples' chatter, Huang Tian wore a faint smile as he approached Master Yuyang. "Master, your disciple must ascend to the heavens today to take up my post. If there is ever an urgent matter in the future, you may send someone to notify me."
"Go to the Heavenly Court with an easy mind," Master Yuyang said, stroking his beard with a smile. "We dwell permanently on Xuandong Mountain and rarely even venture out. What urgent or critical matters could we possibly have? You, on the other hand, as an immortal official, must exercise caution in everything you do."
This "everything" included Huang Tian's duty to quell demons. Suppressing and slaying devils and heterodox practitioners was fraught with peril. Southern Jambudvipa harbored crouching tigers and hidden dragons; there was no telling when a vicious fiend at the True Immortal realm might suddenly emerge during an exorcism, causing injury or even death.
It also encompassed the factional strife within the Heavenly Court itself. The Sovereign Emperor and the two Thearchs were all mighty Golden Immortals who appeared perfectly harmonious on the surface, but their outward accord did not mean the Star Lords and heavenly generals beneath them lived in joyful peace. A certain amount of jockeying for power and profit was inevitable.
Huang Tian understood Master Yuyang's meaning and nodded. "Your disciple will keep this close to heart."
After exchanging a few words of farewell with Master Yuyang, Chen Guangsu, and the other indoor disciples, Huang Tian offered a salute. The others returned the bow, and he then stepped onto an auspicious cloud, soaring high into the sky.
"Celestial Envoy, we may depart."
"I dare not accept the title of envoy before you. This humble official shall lead the way for True Lord."
The celestial envoy spurred his auspicious cloud and led the way ahead.
After flying for a long time, the boundless heavenly palace complex faintly emerged amidst the skies. It spanned hundreds of millions of li, wreathed in surging purple qi, where dragons soared and phoenixes danced amidst the swirling brilliance of immortal light and precious vapor.
"We shall first pay our respects to Star Lord Jinde, and then I will escort you into the Residence of the True Lord of Demon-Quelling," the celestial envoy said.
Having just taken office, Huang Tian could not immediately see the Sovereign Emperor. This was not because a True Immortal lacked stature; even Heavenly Immortals rarely saw him, as the Sovereign Emperor remained in prolonged seclusion, only holding court once every century.
If critical affairs required handling or decrees needed to be issued in the interim, he directly instructed several confidants to execute them. Star Lord Jinde was the confidant among confidants, the direct lineage among direct lineages.
In other words, serving under Star Lord Jinde meant that Huang Tian would naturally be viewed by outsiders as a direct subordinate of the Sovereign Emperor.
Passing through the Heavenly Gate, the party flew westward. In the distance, they finally caught sight of an immortal residence shrouded in an aura of chilling martial slaughter.
After passing inspection by several detachments of heavenly soldiers, they finally arrived before the residence. They saw mist and clouds condensing into auspicious hazes, with sharp vigor piercing like a rainbow. Seven tiers of jeweled steps were each paved with frosty crushed jade, while twelve carved railings bore depictions of roaring tigers and chanting dragons.
Ten thousand years of autumn frost whirled about as the essence of Taibai shot forth like gleaming stars.
Truly:
A terrace of divine immortals cast from metal's purest prime,
The White Emperor's palace wielding doom through slaughter and through time.
Think not that every immortal realm is bathed in gentle grace;
Here, when the wind blows past, blade-light gleams across the space!
Entering the estate, they wound through corridors until they reached the main hall. Seated at the head of the hall was a figure robed in white gold, crowned with jade. His countenance was dignified, his brow marked by a resolute firmness, showing him to be one of unyielding Dao heart.
"Greetings, Star Lord!"
The celestial envoy and Huang Tian saluted. However, while the former knelt in full prostration, the latter merely offered a cupped-hand bow. As a True Immortal of exalted status, he was not required to kneel even before mighty Golden Immortals like the Sovereign Emperor.
Star Lord Jinde nodded and waved a hand, whereupon the celestial envoy tactfully withdrew.
"Fifty years ago, the Sovereign Emperor instructed me to establish the True Lords of Demon-Quelling for the four directions. Today, the East, West, and North are all filled; only the Southern Continent lacked a suitable candidate. While I was fretting over this, you happened to step into the immortal realm, possessing extraordinary combat arts and divine abilities as well. Thus, I dispatched someone to invite you to heaven to serve as an official."
Star Lord Jinde enjoined him, "Now that you have accepted the post, you must perform your duties diligently. Above all, do not shy away from trouble. Act boldly and achieve merit. The Sovereign Emperor and I will take note of everything; we will not let your labor go unrewarded."
"This general understands!"
"In addition, the heavenly troops under your command are still being mobilized and transferred. At present, there are roughly seventy-seven thousand men; it will take another month or so to bring them to full strength. During this time, familiarize yourself with the circumstances of the Heavenly Court."
Star Lord Jinde added, "The immortal peaches, immortal pills, and other rewards promised to you will be delivered to your residence shortly. Well, that is roughly all. Do you have any further questions or concerns?"
"This general is clear on everything."
"Then you may withdraw. Remember: work with diligence and act boldly. Cleanse the southern lands of foulness and display the might of our Heavenly Court."
"Understood!"
Withdrawing from the hall, Huang Tian rejoined the celestial envoy, who led him toward the Residence of the True Lord of Demon-Quelling in the South.
After traveling for a good while, the envoy spoke: "True Lord, we have arrived."
Huang Tian raised his eyes and saw an immortal mansion before him.
This immortal residence shone with ten thousand beams of rosy light reflecting against the crimson firmament, thousands of auspicious wisps locking the southern heavens. Its palaces stood lofty and majestic, with towering eaves. Before the entrance stood two ranks of golden-armored heavenly soldiers, while a flock of Fire Crow Dao soldiers circled in the sky above.
In front of the heavenly soldiers, several hundred people stood in solemn assembly. Seeing the dharmic seal hanging at Huang Tian's waist, they immediately knew he was their immediate superior. Even though Huang Tian possessed the appearance of a youth with vermilion lips and pearl-white teeth, hardly looking like a formidable True Immortal powerhouse, every one of them bowed immediately, calling out in unison, "Your humble officers respectfully welcome the True Lord!"
Huang Tian swept his gaze over them. Among the hundreds of people, eleven stood at the very forefront, all possessing Great Ascension cultivations, with three of them at the peak of the Great Ascension realm. He immediately understood their identities.
The three at Great Ascension perfection were his two vice-generals and an attendant: Zhao Zhen, Tao Xin, and Deng Zhangjue.
The so-called attendant was in truth a chief secretary. That Deng Zhangjue held this post meant he was likely prudent and dependable in handling affairs.
The remaining eight Great Ascension cultivators were the eight valiant generals under Huang Tian's command, each commanding over ten thousand heavenly soldiers.
The other individuals who came to greet him were essentially immortal clerks of the True Lord's residence, charged with assisting him in handling miscellaneous matters.
Huang Tian gave them a slight nod. "Let us all enter the residence."
Hearing this, the assembly parted to clear a path. He stepped into the residence first, and the others followed close behind, their ranks distinctly ordered.
Arriving at the main hall, Huang Tian exchanged a few words with them before dismissing the crowd, keeping only the attendant Deng Zhangjue behind to brief him on the general situation of the Heavenly Court and the demons of Southern Jambudvipa.
Deng Zhangjue said, "Our Heavenly Court boasts many great figures. Above, there is the Sovereign Emperor of the Violet Ultimate Revolving Pivot Who Commands Ten Thousand Daos in the Mysterious Vault, along with the two Thearchs of the Eastern and Western Ultimates. Below them are over twenty Heavenly Immortal Star Lords and more than a hundred True Immortals, making it truly the greatest power in the Earth Immortal Realm. Furthermore, there is the Immortal Palace of Ten Thousand Dharmas, which houses tens of millions of wonderful arts and divine abilities; the Immortal Peach Orchard, where immortal peaches grow; and the Creation Pill Pavilion, where all kinds of immortal pills are refined...
"We immortal officials and clerks receive an annual stipend, and if we establish merit, we earn merit points that can be exchanged for divine abilities, immortal fruits, immortal pills, and other such treasures..."
As this was his first encounter with Huang Tian, Deng Zhangjue did not yet know his disposition, so he did not dare speak of factions, merely reciting the standard facts about the Heavenly Court.
He then elaborated on the numerous demons of Southern Jambudvipa: "The southern lands are vast, harboring crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Devils, demons, and heterodox paths abound; many are at the Great Ascension realm, and there are even those at the True Immortal realm.
"Moreover, because various factions all have a hand in this continent, things are chaotic. A certain great demon might well belong to some Bodhisattva or Arhat, or serve as an informant for a Daoist lineage, or even be a subordinate of a Star Lord or heavenly general in our Heavenly Court. Therefore..."
He paused. "Therefore, slaying demons and purging evils in the southern lands is exceedingly difficult."
For example, you muster your heavenly soldiers and generals, poised to execute a wicked great demon, only for them to blurt out, "I belong to Bodhisattva So-and-So!" What could you do?
Kill them? That meant offending a Bodhisattva; having a mighty Heavenly Immortal bear a grudge against you was no light matter.
Spare them? You would be labeled as someone who bullies the weak while fearing the strong, allowing the demons to run even more rampant, amounting to a grave dereliction of duty.
Huang Tian understood upon hearing this. After a moment's contemplation, he asked, "How much do you know about the origins of the various demons and heterodox paths in Southern Jambudvipa?"
Deng Zhangjue carefully watched Huang Tian's expression, measuring his words. "I know a thing or two."
"A thing or two? Good. Over the coming days, compile a roster of the demons and heterodox practitioners at the Yang Spirit, Great Ascension, and True Immortal realms. Categorize them into those with definite backing, suspected backing, and definitely no backing. Do you understand my meaning?"
"Understood, understood!" Deng Zhangjue nodded repeatedly.
He felt he had roughly guessed his superior's thoughts. A new official had to make an impressive debut, but that blaze had to be ignited with finesse. Demons with influential backers could not be killed carelessly, but those who clearly possessed no backing could be executed to establish his prestige and authority.
Watching Deng Zhangjue's departing back, Huang Tian fell into thought. His intentions were indeed quite close to Deng Zhangjue's conjecture: he planned to make an example of the demons without backing first, earning merit points to trade for immortal pills and swiftly boosting his strength.
Once he reached the Heavenly Immortal realm, he was confident he could match or even defeat and slay Golden Immortals. At that point, he could do whatever he pleased and act with utter freedom—whether Bodhisattva, Star Lord, Buddha, or Thearch, he would suppress them without hesitation all the same.
The post of True Lord of Demon-Quelling in the South is merely a stepping stone for me. My primary focus remains on cultivation...
While he was pondering, a clerk outside the hall brought in a jade box. "True Lord, Star Lord Jinde had this sent over."
Knowing that the immortal peaches and rank-three immortal pills had arrived, Huang Tian felt a surge of joy. Taking the jade box, he opened it to find three purple-veined immortal peaches and a jade bottle containing two immortal pills enveloped in a misty, pure aura.
Just breathing in the scent of the peaches and pills made him sense a subtle stirring in his dharmic power.
Not bad, not bad at all. They truly are fine treasures for enhancing dharmic power! Delighted, he thought, I shall set other matters aside for now and refine these immortal peaches and pills first!
In all heaven and earth, cultivation was paramount. Once his realm was high enough, all petty troubles and complications could be suppressed with a casual flip of his hand!
Meanwhile, when Huang Tian ascended to become an immortal official, a manor nestled against green hills in Fenghua Commandery of the State of Jin was bustling with excitement.
Outside the manor, hundreds of cavalrymen patrolled the grounds. Inside, high-ranking officials draped in vermilion and purple robes walked alongside Daoists of otherworldly grace toward the easternmost end of the manor. The villagers were terrified by such a commotion; some knelt by the roadside with heads buried deep against the ground, while others cowered inside their cottages, not daring to make a sound for fear of offending the noble lords.
"This is Old Man Mo's home," a minor clerk said, bowing and scraping.
The nobles exchanged glances and knocked on the courtyard gate, calling out politely, "Is the venerable elder at home?"
Inside the cottage, Old Man Mo jumped in fright. Beside him, Mo Hong, who had grown into a youth, took a deep breath. "Father, do not panic. The visitors' tone sounds gentle, so they shouldn't be here looking for trouble. Besides, our humble peasant home has neither wealth nor treasures, nor could we ever offend such noble guests. Don't worry, I will go open the door. Please wait inside."
He rose and left the room, entering the courtyard. Looking through the gate at the crowd of noble figures, he felt a flutter of apprehension. Father stays in the manor year-round and never offends anyone, and during my studies at the county academy, I have always kept to myself. We shouldn't have provoked any great figures...
He unlatched the courtyard gate. Just as he was about to speak, the transcendent Daoist at the front spoke first: "This must be young master Mo! Truly of extraordinary celestial grace, refined and untainted by the mortal dust!"
"Indeed, indeed!" the nobles chimed in.
Mo Hong looked utterly bewildered. Me? Extraordinary celestial grace? How could you tell? Why don't I know anything about this?
The Daoist spoke again: "Young master, is Old Man Mo at home?"
Seeing their gentle tone and warm smiles, much of Mo Hong's anxiety faded. "My father is inside. Please come in, gentlemen."
He ushered the group into the courtyard, then pushed open the wooden door of the cottage to support Old Man Mo, who was still trembling slightly, as he walked outside.
Unexpectedly, the moment they laid eyes on Old Man Mo, everyone bowed deeply in unison. "Greetings, Duke Mo!"
Old Man Mo: ???
Mo Hong: ??!
While father and son were completely baffled, the leading Daoist explained, "Your family's Huang Tian has attained the immortal rank! He has ascended to the Heavenly Court as the True Lord of Demon-Quelling in the South! Upon hearing this, His Majesty the Sovereign issued an imperial edict enfeoffing you as a duke and marquis, to enjoy endless wealth and honor! We are here now to escort your household to the imperial capital."
Old Man Mo's eyes went round as saucers, and Mo Hong's mind buzzed in shock.
"Attained the immortal rank?"
"True Lord of Demon-Quelling?!"
"Huang Tian became an immortal?!!"
It took a long while for the two to snap out of their dazed disbelief. Then, in a daze, the family of three was helped into a luxurious carriage by the nobles, setting off toward the capital.
As the carriage rolled farther away, the shouts of the cavalrymen could still be heard echoing across the manor: "By His Majesty's boundless grace, all manor residents are exempt from taxes for a hundred years, and the entire township is exempt for ten years! Auspicious coins are also bestowed upon all, that we may rejoice together!!"
Roars of jubilation and thanksgiving rose in waves.
Inside the carriage, listening to the cheers, Mo Hong could not help but recall his best companion from childhood. A phrase suddenly flashed across his mind:
"When one man attains the Dao, even his fowls and dogs rise to heaven..."
Truly:
One morn he soared to the Jade Capital to join the heavenly choir,
At once the mortal world below took on brocade attire.
A thousand horsemen crowd the gates, with golden enclosures high;
As cloud carriages descend to earth, the marquisate is conferred!
Chapter 195