...
Heavenly Court.
Overhanging Firmant Hall.
Amidst swirling auspicious clouds, the Emperor of Heaven sat upright upon the dragon throne.
The Righteous Gods stood to the left and right, each reporting the affairs they had encountered in recent days.
Nowadays, with the number of heavenly laws exceeding one million, there was a precedent for almost everything, yet in Dongsheng Divine Continent, countless new cases arose every day, requiring the Holy Judgent of the Emperor of Heaven.
Just as the court session was about to conclude, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel stepped forward and said,
"Your Majesty, the current gods of the Heavenly Court, including those registered in the genealogy and the bloodlines, number in the billions and have already occupied four-tenths of the spots in the Daoist academy. If they continue to multiply in this manner, the Daoist academy will be overrun by divine progeny, and mortals will no longer have the opportunity to cultivate..."
When the Heavenly Court was first established, there were no restrictions on the number of places in the Daoist academy.
Now, to limit the demand for incense, the Daoist academy sets a fixed annual enrollnt quota, arranged by the talent of one’s Spirit Root, and once it’s full, later enrollnts are deferred.
Many mortals with Fourth and Fifth Grade Spirit Roots, who didn’t make the cut this year, will find themselves further displaced by new higher-grade Spirit Roots the following year, until they are white-haired and still ineligible to enter the Daoist academy.
Beyond Spirit Roots, another way into the Daoist academy is through rits.
The Righteous Gods of the Heavenly Court accumulate rits, which can be exchanged for their descendants’ entry into the academy, and these also count towards the overall quota.
As the descendants’ bloodlines of the Righteous Gods of the Heavenly Court continue to grow, the rit slots exchanged have correspondingly skyrocketed, with nearly half of the students in the Daoist academy being connected godly progeny, further clogging the path of those lower Spirit Rooted mortals.
Before the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel could finish speaking, the assembled gods imdiately voiced their opposition.
"We have established rit and services for the Heavenly Court, should we not receive so privileges?"
"Our descendants’ entry into the Daoist academy also cos at a cost, deducting a significant amount of our rits!"
"It conforms to the heavenly laws, benefits the stability of the Heavenly Court, and encourages the gods to earn rits. How can such a positive thing be described as blocking the advancent of others?"
"Respected Minister, your disciples and descendants are not few in number, have you not exchanged rits?"
"Hehe, he follows the true teachings of Heaven-nding, which is different from us, and being in charge of distributing the Immortal Register, would he fear not entering the Daoist academy?"
"..."
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel’s expression remained unchanged, having anticipated the reaction of the gods, he calmly awaited the Emperor of Heaven to speak.
"My beloved subjects, be at ease."
The Emperor of Heaven said leisurely, "My beloved subject is thinking of the long-term interests of the Heavenly Court, and there is no selfish desire involved. However, changing rit exchange is a significant matter and must be adjusted gradually."
He didn’t say it shouldn’t be done, nor did he implent imdiate changes, which was very much in line with the Emperor’s usual approach to maintaining balance.
"There is another matter I wish to report," said the Minister. Enjoy new stories from .Côm
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel spoke, "So days ago, during my travels in the Mortal World, I encountered the reincarnation of the Heavenly Master. I wonder how he should be arranged?"
"The reincarnation of the Heavenly Master!"
The gods exclaid in unison, instantly falling silent, all eyes turning to the Emperor of Heaven.
"The Heavenly Master is one of the founders of the Heavenly Court. How could he be left to wander the Mortal World?"
The Emperor’s expression did not change at all as he said, "I sealed the Heavenly Master’s hall precisely to await the reincarnation of the Heavenly Master. Now that he has been found, it is only fitting to reinstate the title of Heavenly Master!"
The gods looked at each other, having dealt with the Emperor for a thousand years, they knew he was not an agreeable one to speak with.
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel said, "According to the fundantal laws established by the Ancestral Masters before Divine Enthronent, no matter the cultivator who joins the Heavenly Court, they all start from the Ninth Grade to accumulate rits."
The Emperor of Heaven said, "The fundantal system shall not be changed, yet the position of Heavenly Master has never had a rank associated with it, so let it be temporarily placed at Ninth Grade."
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel bowed respectfully, "The Emperor is sage."
The Emperor nodded slightly, then after a mont of contemplation, he continued,
"Let an attendant minister of the Ministry of Personnel carry My Jade Decree to the Mortal World, inviting the reincarnation of the Heavenly Master to the Heavenly Court for his enthronent!"
"As you command."
Gu Xiao, the attendant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stepped forward and bowed, accepting the command.
...
It so happened that after accepting the decree, Gu Xiao first returned to Heavenly Mountain to consult with the immortal Shoushan Gong.
"Brother, does today’s event in the Overhanging Firmant Hall have anything to do with our sect?"
"Of course, it pertains to the peace of the Divine Continent..."
Shoushan Gong explained the implications while advising Gu Xiao not to get caught up in personal grudges, suggesting that eting the calamity was not necessarily a bad thing. He could use the Arhat’s Shèlì Relics to break through to the virtual return and gain nurous benefits for a future rebirth and cultivation.
Gu Xiao, upon inquiring about the reincarnation of the Heavenly Master, rode the clouds to Naless Barren Mountain, where, after so searching, he ventured underground.
At that mont.
Sun Changsheng was preaching to a group of monkeys, scratching his ears and cheeks in his excitent.
"Rember, we cultivate for longevity, and all else can be forsaken..."
Gu Xiao, hidden behind Sun Changsheng, listened to these words and was struck with myriad emotions. Even without awakened past wisdom, he had a striking resemblance to the great elder brother from his previous life.
Adjusting his attire, he suddenly manifested his form out of thin air.
"I am Gu Xiao, the Righteous God of the Ministry of Personnel, sent by the Emperor of Heaven to invite you to the Heavenly Court for your enthronent!"
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Whoosh!
The mont Sun Changsheng heard the sound, he leapt up, expelled a boundless thunderous light from his mouth, and waved his hands to release hundreds of spell talismans.
"Freeze!"
As soon as Gu Xiao uttered the command, not only were the lightning talismans immobilizing the void, but the monkeys, livestock, and the formation all froze in place as well.
Undo!
Sensing the terrifying pressure, Sun Changsheng’s eyes darted around, and he imdiately cupped his hands in supplication and said, "Supre God, spare my life, I accidentally slipped and released the talismans."
Gu Xiao chuckled and said, "Oh? What about that thunderbolt?"
Sun Changsheng’s face turned red with embarrassnt, but he brazenly said, "That was a spell I used to rid myself of bad breath. I’ve gotten so used to it, it accidentally ca out."
"Likewise, so alike!"
In Sun Changsheng, Gu Xiao saw the shadow of his big brother, identical in speech and action.
"No need for fallacious argunts, Brother Sun. I co with no ill will, on the contrary, I am here to offer you a position."
Sun Changsheng asked in surprise, "I have never been to the Heavenly Court—instead, I’ve breached the law by teaching monkeys, so why would the Heavenly Emperor confer an official post on ?"
"You’ll understand once you go,"
Gu Xiao did not explain, hoping that upon taking charge of the Heavenly Master’s Hall, perhaps he could regain the mories of his forr life.
Sun Changsheng wanted to refuse, but lacking the strength to resist, he could only nod and said, "Please lead the way, Supre God, I need to speak a few words with these monkeys."
Gu Xiao’s figure flashed, and he disappeared into the underground cavern.
Sun Changsheng said to the troop of monkeys, "You lot, go to Qingyun Mountain now and submit yourselves under my big brother’s command. Even if I cannot return, you will have a peaceful place to cultivate."
"Great King!"
The monkeys were reluctant to part, and among them, a fierce ape brandished his fists, wanting to strike the Heavenly Court.
"Don’t talk nonsense!"
As his Master had taught him, Sun Changsheng knew to bow his head when faced with a formidable enemy, not to recklessly display aggression, but to quietly accumulate strength and wait for the opportune mont.
A mont later.
Gu Xiao and Sun Changsheng arrived outside the Heavenly Court and encountered a great general guarding Heaven’s Gate.
"Please!"
"Many thanks!"
Sun Changsheng sensed the general’s gaze, finding it rather strange upon himself, mixing nostalgia, affection, and a hint of guilt.
Straight to the Overhanging Firmant Hall.
The Heavenly Emperor had already received the news and showed surprise upon seeing Sun Changsheng enter the hall.
"A demon?"
Gu Xiao bowed and said, "Indeed he is of the demon race, but he was naturally born and nurtured, not of the dragon, phoenix, qilin kind, but of the Innate Spirits."
The Heavenly Emperor nodded slightly, "Very good."
"Paying homage to the Heavenly Emperor."
Unlike Gu Xiao, who bowed, Sun Changsheng strode forward briskly, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed three tis with three bows, loudly proclaiming the Heavenly Emperor’s long life and prosperity.
"..."
The Heavenly Emperor silently stood, suddenly recalling the past Heavenly Master, who was notably adept at flattering.
The surrounding Heavenly Court Righteous Gods, many of whom held mories of the past, felt both familiarity and nostalgia upon seeing Sun Changsheng’s actions.
It must be the reincarnation of the Heavenly Master!
Gathering his thoughts, the Heavenly Emperor said, "You are indeed the reincarnation of the Heavenly Master, but alas your innate wisdom has yet to awaken, making it difficult to assu a role beyond the extraordinary. Moreover, due to restrictions by the fundantal laws of the Heavenly Court, it is appropriate to confer upon you a Ninth Grade position."
"Are you willing?"
"Willing, willing, your subordinate is willing."
Sun Changsheng wondered in his heart about all this talk of the reincarnation of the Heavenly Master, but upon hearing about the official appointnt, especially to the modest post he had dread of, he imdiately agreed with a joyful face.
If he followed his Master’s advice, a minor position was far cozier than a significant one—as long as one didn’t strive for promotion, life could indeed be as leisurely as an immortal’s.
"It’s good that the Heavenly Master agrees, fulfilling both the Heavenly Court’s grace and not violating the ancestral rules."
The Heavenly Emperor asked, "Now the Heavenly Court governs countless Divine Continents. Do you have anything in particular you wish to do, my support is assured!"
The assembled gods nodded to themselves upon hearing this.
The Heavenly Emperor, who had ruled over the Divine Continents for a millennium, showed that he still valued past kindness with such words.
Who wouldn’t want to serve under a leader who respected old loyalties?
Sun Changsheng scratched his head, pondering for a long ti, and recalling a story his Master once told, he said, "Your Majesty, this subordinate wishes to guard prisoners in the Heavenly Prison."
"The Heavenly Prison?"
The Heavenly Emperor was slightly taken aback, puzzled as to why Sun Changsheng would choose such a sordid place, but still, he nodded his consent.
"Since my minister expresses such desire, in addition to the position of Heavenly Master, you shall also receive the Ninth Grade post as the warden of the Heavenly Prison!"
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