Chapter 573: Tian Yi Opens Business

Li Changshou used a paper effigy to disguise himself as an old immortal, deliberately adjusting Taibai Jinxing's image by adding some flowing whiskers.

This way, he could stroke his beard when he didn't want to speak, adding some physical expression.

As he left the gates of Taibai Gong, figures everywhere bowed their heads in respect.

Li Changshou summoned the heavenly general on duty at the palace and said warmly:

"Go to Yaochi and find Longji Dianxia, and have her bring people to make preparations at Nantianmen."

Although Longji was his disciple, when speaking to others in her absence, Li Changshou always added the title "Dianxia."

Later, for the grand ritual of establishing Shangguo and offering sacrifices to heaven, the Heavenly Court would display some auspicious omens and phenomena, which would also serve as good practice for Longji.

Thinking of Shangguo, Li Changshou instinctively recalled the Fengshen Dajie.

But the Fengshen Dajie was merely using the chaos at the end of the Shang dynasty as a pretext, shifting the karma of the great calamity among the human race back onto them.

The true significance of establishing Da Shang lay in building the system of separation between immortals and mortals.

This was the foundation for Li Changshou's own proof of the Great Dao of Equilibrium, a form of indirect cultivation.

Although in recent years, Li Changshou hadn't devoted much energy to this matter and had only made arrangements at the beginning,

Under the covert promotion of the Tiandao and the protection of Kong Xuan Dajie, the Shang tribe had undergone several transformations, fulfilling Li Changshou's design for the Sanjie system, particularly the need for a "foundation of the mundane world."

Immortals and gods, ghosts and spirits, demons and monsters.

Mortals would be under the protection of the Tiandao, immortals and gods would act in accordance with it, demons and monsters would not disrupt the mundane world, and the six paths of reincarnation would maintain order.

This was the Sanjie order that Li Changshou had personally advanced.

In doing so, Li Changshou had several layers of deeper intentions, but in his view, he had no noble qualities.

It was simply for his own cultivation.

Recalling Pangu's self-sacrificial resolve in opening the heavens and earth, and the Dao Zu's courage in merging with the Dao to protect the Hong Huang and stop Senior Lang, what he had done was...

Trifling, not worth mentioning.

Hmm, he should think of it that way from now on, avoid bringing up Senior Lang unnecessarily, and keep praises of the Dao Zu in his thoughts—perhaps his merit body could still be salvaged.

Along the way, people fussed over him with concern, and as he reached the front of Lingxiao Dian, he "coincidentally" encountered Dongmu Gong, who looked worried and deep in thought.

Li Changshou understood and stopped, waiting for Dongmu Gong to approach, then smiled and said:

"Dongmu Gong, what's wrong? Why do you look so troubled?"

Dongmu Gong forced an awkward smile and sighed softly.

"Changgeng, that Xi Ting is truly..."

Li Changshou silently gave him silent praise in his heart.

What a loyal Heavenly Court veteran, never letting his guard down for nearly a century—truly a model for us all.

"Dongmu Gong, you don't need to worry so much," Li Changshou said seriously. "As long as you stay by His Majesty's side, what danger could there be?"

"Ah," Dongmu Gong transmitted via divine sense, "just thinking about the power of the saints makes me shudder."

Li Changshou asked:

"Has the Xi Ting been making any moves lately?"

"It's exactly as you predicted earlier," Dongmu Gong said. "The Xi Ting has started suppressing the Xianmeng and spreading rumors about the Heavenly Court across Zhong Shenzhou...

The only thing that hasn't happened yet is anything directed at me."

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, realizing he might have overestimated Dongmu Gong's resolve.

If this continued and some inner demon arose, it could backfire.

"Dongmu Gong," Li Changshou said, "let's go into Lingxiao Dian first. We shouldn't keep His Majesty waiting. Wait for me a few days, and I'll visit your residence later so we can talk over wine."

Dongmu Gong's smile finally became more natural and warm. They exchanged bows, then both extended their left and right hands in invitation, and entered Lingxiao Dian together.

This was precisely:

The Heavenly Court's great prosperity at this time, with Dongmu Gong and Taibai Jinxing in harmony.

No need to mention Li Changshou entering Lingxiao Bao Dian and reporting to the Yu Huang about the establishment of Shangguo in Nanzhan Buzhou today.

Meanwhile, in Yaochi, the heavenly general from Taibai Gong hurried to deliver the message, and an immortal maiden passed it on to the immortal pavilion where Longji resided and cultivated.

Longji, who had been staring absentmindedly at the mirror-like water surface by the window, quickly walked to her dressing table. She checked her makeup, which she had prepared a few days in advance, and then used the essence of sunset glow to touch up her lips.

Her residence was one of the most elegant spots in Yaochi, with thirty-six mirror-like treasure pools behind the immortal pavilion, and not far away was the warm chamber where Wangmu Niangniang resided.

Longji's earlier daze wasn't due to any particular thought; it was just absentmindedness from having nothing to do.

Soon, Longji stepped out slowly, wearing a gray-white long skirt with gold embroidery and wide sleeves. When the sleeves overlapped, they formed a pattern of cranes and auspicious symbols. The gray-white skirt was hidden with gold-threaded phoenix patterns, making it a protective spiritual treasure.

Since her master had told her to dress up nicely today, she had taken great care. Her long hair was styled into a cloud chignon, accentuating her slender neck. She wore light red earrings as the perfect touch, drawing the eye immediately to her figure and appearance.

As she rode the clouds forward for just a few li, two teams of immortal maidens arranged by Wangmu Niangniang approached with flower baskets, bowed to Longji, and followed behind her as they headed toward Nantianmen.

This was today's Heavenly Court "award procession."

When Longji and the dozens of immortal maidens arrived at Nantianmen, she spotted her master at once and eagerly sped up her cloud.

But then, Longji saw the heavenly general leading the troops and instantly straightened her posture, striking a nearly perfect figure, her expression serious, brows clear, and breathing steady, embodying complete poise.

That heavenly general was undoubtedly Quan Tong.

Behind Quan Tong and Li Changshou stood two figures: on the left was Ao Yi, the deputy commander of the Tianhe Shui Jun and the second guard of Taibai Gong.

On the right was Bian Zhuang, the most reckless fellow in the Heavenly Court, on the verge of being dismissed from the Tianhe Shui Jun, the deputy commander who might have to go home and inherit the family "chain business" if he didn't perform his Heavenly Court duties well.

After passing his Jin Xian tribulation, Ao Yi had become even more imposing, growing two inches taller in human form, yet still maintaining his handsome youthful appearance. Now clad in armor and holding a sword, he looked truly majestic.

Bian Zhuang stood there with his head down and eyes lowered, behaving himself and barely breathing, afraid of being suddenly called out by the Xing Jun.

He spent his days obsessing over "live broadcasts" instead of cultivating, so his progress over the years was only average among the heavenly generals. With Ao Yi ahead of him and Jin Peng pressuring him from behind, Bian Zhuang felt utterly insecure.

—Here, meaning mentally insecure.

Jin Peng had gone to reinforce the Xianmeng where the situation was unfavorable, so Li Changshou hadn't summoned him back this time.

Longji rode her cloud over, curtsied gracefully, and greeted with her voice like the trill of a hundred birds:

"Longji pays respects to Shifu and greets Yuan Shuai Quan."

Quan Tong nodded with a smile. Li Changshou said warmly:

"It's been hard on you today. Just follow behind Yuan Shuai Quan for now. Later, when Shangguo performs the heavenly sacrifice, you can scatter the blessings from the Heavenly Court."

"Yes."

Longji and the immortal maidens behind her responded in unison, following Li Changshou and Quan Tong, with a large group of heavenly soldiers and guards flanking them as they flew out of Nantianmen.

Through the immortal senses of the more than ten paper effigies scattered around, half of Nanzhan Buzhou was projected into Li Changshou's mind.

These days, the role of the Hai Shen Miao had become increasingly minor, with incense merit coming in more slowly, as if limited by the Tiandao, clearly intended to restrict his merit body.

Li Changshou was considering finding an opportunity to hand over the Hai Shen Miao to the Longzu,

Ideally, after some dragon committed an offense and the Heavenly Court punished them, then offered some benefits, he could transfer the Hai Shen Miao to improve the Longzu's fortunes.

A stick followed by a sweet date—a common method of discipline.

Nanzhan Buzhou was vast, so vast that even the various human emperors in the past had never truly "unified the world."

The same was true for today's Shangguo.

They had risen from the eastern part of Nanzhan Buzhou, expanding westward through two centuries of encroachment, annexation, and conquest, securing the central prosperous region. Even so, their territory only covered about a quarter of Nanzhan Buzhou.

Under their rule, countless beings lived, with mortals as numerous as the clouds, countless cities and fortresses, and uncountable soldiers and armor.

Today, as the Shang tribe established Shangguo, emissaries from hundreds of surrounding nations came to offer tribute, acknowledging the new human emperor as the supreme ruler of the world.

From the perspective of mortals, Shangguo was unstoppable, capable of overthrowing any city or nation at will; the only obstacle to their campaigns was distance.

In the eyes of ordinary cultivators, Shangguo had gathered the momentum of a human emperor, backed by the Heavenly Court, essentially a "incense-burning divine nation."

Only those great powers and divine beings who truly understood the grand trends of heaven and earth knew that Shangguo held extraordinary significance, with the human emperor's destiny influencing the operation of the Tiandao.

However, Shangguo wasn't without its drawbacks.

First and foremost was its system.

Shangguo's predecessor was a small nation from Dongsheng Shenzhou. Under Li Changshou's arrangements and the Tiandao's protection, it had reached its current state, but it still retained the structure of monarch, nobles, and slaves.

Much of Shangguo's progress came from war captives, and its people were divided into upper, middle, and lower classes based on birth, with slaves outside these ranks.

Compared to the various "advanced systems" in Nanzhan Buzhou that had evolved since ancient times, Shangguo's path of conquest was largely "barbaric conquering the civilized."

Yet, precisely because of this strict hierarchy and the sole path of advancement—military service—Shangguo's army maintained strong combat effectiveness, allowing rapid advances to the central region of Nanzhan Buzhou.

Under the Tiandao's covert promotion, today's establishment of Shangguo would also bring about a series of reforms adapted to its current territory.

Of course, Shangguo had its relatively "enlightened" aspects compared to other nations and tribes.

Shangguo revered ancestors and sacrificed to heaven, but not to specific deities;

Within Shangguo, there was no discrimination between men and women; women could serve in the military and lead troops in battle. Although most civil officials were men, the influential priests and diviners were women of pure status.

Moreover, among Shangguo's elite, it was not uncommon for women to be the heads of households.

This stemmed from Shangguo's worship of a certain ancestor.

That's right, it was Youqin Xuanya, who had once saved the mother and child of "Qi."

The monarch, divine authority, and nobility formed a system of checks and balances, ensuring internal stability and the ability to govern such a vast territory.

Li Changshou observed all this but had no desire to comment.

Criticizing Shangguo's slave and noble system in the Hong Huang... wouldn't that be a bit excessive?

Things needed to develop step by step, and with the Tiandao arranging and promoting it behind the scenes, he only needed to do what was appropriate at the right moments.

Timing it perfectly, the Heavenly Court group arrived above Shangguo's magnificent capital without revealing themselves.

In the center of the capital stood a square altar, hundreds of zhang high and terraced like fields, with each level crowded with Shangguo nobles and generals. The four wide avenues in the city and the rooftops around the altar were filled with kneeling mortals.

Outside the city, on the plains, the large number of slaves who had been temporarily expelled were under military surveillance, squatting quietly and waiting for the ceremony in the city to end.

Shangguo's black bird banners fluttered everywhere in and around the city, and countless mortals remained silent.

The Yu Huang, disguised as Quan Tong, transmitted to Li Changshou:

"Changgeng, mortals are so ignorant; the path of education is long and arduous."

Li Changshou replied via divine sense:

"Your Majesty should proceed gradually. With the Heavenly Court established in the Hong Huang and Your Majesty always seeking blessings for all beings, the human race will be at peace."

"You're at it again, lecturing me."

Quan Tong shook his head with a smile, and Li Changshou quickly transmitted an explanation that he had no such intention.

At the top of the altar in the west, the female priests wearing ghost masks completed an entire set of ritual dances. Then, from the north side of the altar, the Shangguo ruler, dressed in black robes and holding a scepter, ascended the steps.

Li Changshou transmitted:

"Your Majesty, this humble god will make his move now."

Quan Tong nodded with a smile.

Immediately, Li Changshou flicked his whisk, and a beam of golden light descended from the clear sky, landing on Shang Tang Tianyi's head and illuminating the entire altar.

Tianyi smiled slightly at the corners of his mouth and continued climbing the steps with composure, his demeanor even more authoritative.

From the clouds, Li Changshou made repeated moves, manifesting the pre-prepared omens one after another.

Thunder rumbled from the four directions of heaven and earth, and the illusory shadows of the five directions' deities appeared.

When Tianyi reached the highest point of the altar and raised his scepter high, bowing toward the front,

Kong Xuan stood on the city wall, wearing a light white skirt embroidered with seven-colored divine birds. With a point of her delicate hand, an illusory phoenix shadow appeared in the air, circling three times above the great city before soaring into the sky.

Streams of light filled the heavens, beams of immortal light fell from the clouds, and thirty-six immortal maidens danced in circles. Longji stepped on auspicious clouds and slowly descended halfway, presenting the imperial seal cast by the Heavenly Court.

Inside and outside the city, countless mortals exclaimed in awe...

In the Heavenly Court, Lingxiao Bao Dian trembled continuously, and the nine levels of heavenly gates shone with golden light;

Across the five continents, auspicious clouds rolled, and golden light scattered everywhere, leaving all spirits silent.

In Huoyun Dong of Zhong Shenzhou, a vast destiny aura of red mixed with purple appeared, solidifying the foundation of the human race's destiny.

From this moment, the mundane human emperors of Nanzhan Buzhou received their mandate from heaven, fully integrating the mundane world into the Tiandao system. Nanzhan Buzhou would be protected by the Tiandao's power, mortals must revere the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Court's incense would flourish from now on.

In this matter, Li Changshou had done a lot, but most of it was going with the flow, following the Tiandao's script to gain some merit for himself.

The grand trend remained unchanged, but minor details could be altered.

Li Changshou had indeed made a few small adjustments, influencing Shangguo's current situation.

For instance, due to Youqin Xuanya's influence, women in Shangguo now held equal status to men.

And abolishing human sacrifices, so that the Shang tribe used livestock for rituals early on, counted as another.

Nothing more—just effortless minor deeds.

"Ah."

"Ah."

Outside Shangguo's capital, on the summit of a small mountain, two figures hid within a secretive grand array, gazing at the splendid lights and shadows of the mortal city.

Jiu Jiu, dressed in a short shirt and skirt, sat on a stool with her hands supporting her chin, staring blankly.

He must have come, right? Probably somewhere in those clouds.

Beside her, the Qi Qing Maiden, wearing a long skirt that shifted through seven colors, imitated Jiu Jiu, propping her chin and sighing.

"You're copying me again," Jiu Jiu said with a pout. "Which one are you right now?"

"Little Ai!"

The Qi Qing Maiden giggled. "Little Bei won't come out until the next hour. Don't be in such a hurry."

"What's there to hurry about?" Jiu Jiu muttered.

"You're eager to pour out your grievances, aren't you?"

"Tch!"

Jiu Jiu rolled her eyes. "This immortal is perfectly happy—what's there to complain about? It's just... ah, Bai Xianchang said there might be a chance to see him today, but it seems we won't."

The Qi Qing Maiden tapped her cheek lightly with her fingers, puzzled. "Weren't you two on good terms? Why not just go see him directly?"

"He was in seclusion before, so where was the opportunity?"

Jiu Jiu huffed. "When this immortal makes a move, it'll be effortless! What heavenly official or anything—none of it matters!"

The maiden pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. After all, you have the aura of Shi Shu backing you."

"Exactly!" Jiu Jiu waved her hand with a flourish, then fell into a slight daze.

"Hey, hey, can you do that thing again?"

Jiu Jiu blinked. "Which one?"

The Qi Qing Maiden suddenly put on a fierce expression: "Anyone who steals from Shi Shu will pay! Waa! Waaah!"

Jiu Jiu's face turned red as she covered the maiden's mouth with her hand, flustered and grinding her teeth. The two tussled in the array.

Perhaps because the "Ai" incarnation of the Qi Qing accidentally released some aura, it stirred up the longing in Jiu Jiu's heart, and she quickly became dejected, her Dao heart wavering.

As if sensing the significant crack in Jiu Jiu's Dao heart, a faint shadow swiftly moved across the ground and silently drifted to the mountaintop, burrowing toward Jiu Jiu's shadow.

At that moment, Li Changshou, seated high in the sky, frowned slightly and looked toward the mountaintop. His divine eyes flashed, piercing through the array effortlessly and fixing on that shadow.

He was aware that Jiu Jiu was there and planned to greet her after finishing the main business.

He was also puzzled about how Jiu Jiu had built such a deep friendship with the Qi Qing incarnation.

But that was a story for later.

That shadow seemed like a heart demon, similar to the one Youqin Xuanya had encountered at Duxianmen long ago.

Li Changshou flicked his whisk, ready to strike with a golden light to invoke heavenly punishment and shatter the heart demon.

But before he could act, the maiden beside Jiu Jiu exclaimed softly, clapped her hands, and pulled, instantly yanking a black shadow out from behind Jiu Jiu.

"What's this?"

The Qi Qing incarnation showed a hint of curiosity, her beautiful eyes turning into a kaleidoscope of seven colors.