Lord of the Earth

"Ok?"

Emperor Donghua nodded slightly, without saying much.

Its posture is detached from worldly affairs, as if separated from this bustling Jade Pool by an invisible boundary.

Unlike Doumu Yuanjun, who is all-encompassing and generous in giving advice to younger generations, this emperor, born from pure yang energy, has a gaze as deep as an ancient well, carrying a calm and detached look that examines the ages.

His gaze did not linger long on Xia Tian, ​​who had a special status and was shrouded in good fortune, or on Wu Song, who was taciturn and held the dual authority of a star lord and the underworld.

Instead, it seemed to pierce through the water curtain, passing over them, and landed precisely behind Xia Tian on Yao Chi, the girl who was reaching out her slender fingers to carefully touch the dragon relief on the jade pillar beside her.

Her eyes were unfocused, carrying a sense of reminiscence and confusion that seemed out of place with the surrounding hustle and bustle, as if she were trying to recall a distant yet familiar dream!

"You...you are actually like this..."

For the first time, a subtle, almost imperceptible ripple appeared on the usually calm and dignified face of Emperor Donghua.

He gazed at the young girl Yaochi, his eyes no longer simply looking down, but carrying a hint of inquiry, and a certain... realization, as if confirming something.

"It actually succeeded... Donghua greets fellow Daoist!"

His address of "fellow Daoist" remained calm and utterly devoid of any hint of worldly concern.

But it was like a thunderclap from the heavens, suddenly exploding in Xia Tian's mind, causing his thoughts to race and countless ideas to flash through his mind like lightning.

"As expected! Little Jade Pool's origins are definitely extraordinary!"

Summer thought to herself.

In fact, he had long suspected the origin of "Little Jade Pool".

It's not just because Xiao Yaochi appeared inside the "Emperor's Coffin" at the "Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum" and was punished by "Heavenly Tribulation".

Furthermore, because in the illusion created by the "Illusory Realm of the Great Void", she, who was wandering alone and seemingly helpless, was able to easily attract the appearance of the "Queen Mother of the West" incarnation, and was even bestowed with the "Undying Heavenly Demon Technique", a direct path to immortality and a supreme method for the demon race.

What kind of being is the Queen Mother of the West?

She was the head of the Heavenly Court's female immortals, who was on par with Donghua Dijun, jointly managing Yin and Yang, and in charge of the Kunlun Wonderland and Yaochi Scenic Spot. She was a top-level true god standing at the pinnacle of all living beings!

Now, this equally venerable Emperor Donghua has also personally stopped to address him as "fellow Daoist" with the courtesy due to an equal... Behind this series of "coincidences" must lie a very deep cause and effect, which may even involve the secrets of the ancient Immortal Court!
Although Xia Tian's cultivation level is still at the "Supreme God" level, he has experienced many extraordinary encounters, and his vision and cognition have long surpassed the ordinary, making him no less than some senior "quasi-true gods"!

He naturally realized long ago that the various "opportunities" arranged by the Earth's will were by no means unfounded. The true identity and background of the "cheap sister" he picked up in the Land of Illusion were probably far beyond his initial boldest imagination!
However, before summer could even settle her thoughts...

As I tried to organize my thoughts and probe into more details from this esteemed "Head of the Heavenly Male Immortals"—

"The Heavenly Venerable Who Subdues Demons of the Nine Heavens has arrived!"

At this moment, the resounding and solemn voice of General Rolling Curtain once again echoed throughout Yaochi.

A sovereign, clad in a dark black imperial robe and wearing a crown, with a majestic face as if carved by a knife and axe, and surrounded by enormous phantoms of tortoises and snakes intertwined as guards, arrived riding on auspicious clouds and mist.

His black imperial robe seemed to devour light, and his disheveled hair and bare feet made him appear even more otherworldly. The phantom images of tortoises and snakes beneath his feet were lifelike, exuding an ancient and primordial aura. His fierce killing intent intertwined with the vast divine power like a starry sea.

His gaze was like lightning; wherever he looked, the void seemed to freeze, and all evil and demonic energy seemed to melt away under his gaze.

"This is the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Celestial Venerable. King Xia, we must pay our respects immediately!"

Lu Dongbin's tone was filled with heartfelt reverence, even more so than when he was facing Donghua Dijun, showing a greater sense of awe for his strength.

The Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Celestial Venerable, also known as the "True Martial Emperor," is said to be the transformed form of the Northern Sacred Beast "Xuanwu"!

As the most outstanding among the subordinate races recruited by the Heavenly Court in the past, each of the "Four Sacred Beasts" possesses the power of a true god. Logically, the Azure Dragon, who comes from a supreme race and is known as the "God of War," should be the leader.

However, in reality, the "True Martial Emperor," who is the incarnation of the Black Tortoise of the North, holds a position and a prestigious reputation in the Heavenly Court that is subtly superior to that of the Azure Dragon!
This is because what the True Martial Emperor did was so shocking to all the heavens and myriad realms.

In Buddhist legend, the world is divided into four continents, including East Sheng Shenzhou, West Niu Hezhou, South Zhanbuzhou, and North Ju Luzhou... Zhenwu the Great was ordered by the Jade Emperor to guard North Ju Luzhou and sweep away all evil spirits in the world.

With unparalleled supernatural powers and ruthless methods, he thoroughly cleansed and purified the demons of an entire continent. His killing spree and great achievements shook the world!
Therefore, he is also revered as the "Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Heavenly Venerable," the sharpest sword in the Heavenly Court.

"I've seen Tianzun!"

Just as when Doumu Yuanjun and Donghua Dijun arrived, after Zhenwu Dadi arrived, all the gods present, regardless of their rank, stood up and bowed respectfully, their voices rising like a tidal wave!
However, the True Martial Celestial Venerable before us did not manifest in the form of a tortoise-snake divine beast at the Peach Banquet. Instead, he transformed into the heroic appearance of a human emperor, with the tortoise-snake phantom swirling behind him as a symbol of his original power, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

This seems to confirm the supreme truth that "the Great Way is formless, yet it manifests in countless forms."

This also demonstrates his respect for and recognition of this grand Peach Banquet centered on the "human race".

The Heavenly Venerable of Subduing Demons of the Nine Heavens had a piercing gaze that swept across the entire scene, and none of the many immortals and gods present dared to meet his eyes for long.

His gaze lingered briefly on Lü Dongbin, and he nodded slightly, seemingly acknowledging his swordsmanship.

When his gaze fell on Xia Tian, ​​Xia Tian felt an invisible pressure enveloping him, as if thousands of sword intents were hanging above his head, trying to see through him inside and out.

"The Human Race's Imperial Star is at the height of its fortune, but calamity will follow... Take care."

The voice of the True Martial Emperor was like the clang of metal.

Brief and cold, yet carrying a warning that goes straight to the heart of the matter.

Xia Tian felt a chill run down his spine and respectfully replied, "Thank you for the warning, Heavenly Venerable. Xia Tian will keep it in mind."

This great emperor, who once swept away countless demons in Beiju Luzhou, is definitely among the top in strength among true gods. Such words are certainly not unfounded!
"Yes, fellow Daoist... I understand..."

Immediately, the gaze of the True Martial Emperor, like that of the Eastern Emperor, passed over Xia Tian and landed on the girl Yao Chi behind him. There seemed to be a change in his cold eyes. Without saying a word, he walked straight to his seat!
"The Great Emperor of the North Pole of the Central Heaven, Ziwei Emperor, has arrived! The Great Emperor of Gouchen Emperor has arrived!"

Almost simultaneously, two more figures of supreme majesty descended.

In summer, all that could be seen was an emperor clad in a star-studded robe, wearing a crown, his face shrouded in endless starlight, obscuring his true features. Only an aura of imperial dominion, encompassing the heavens and controlling all directions, swept forth—a sovereign descending upon him. The illusory images of the stars around him seemed to pay homage, as if he were the very center of the constellations. This was none other than the Ziwei Emperor, one of the "Four Emperors" of Taoism, the "Ruler of All Stars."

They are in charge of the celestial order, the sun, moon, and stars, command all the stars, and preside over human warfare. Their position is extremely high and their power is immense!

The other person, with an equally noble and extraordinary demeanor, was surrounded by countless fine lightning bolts. His breath seemed to be accompanied by thunderous explosions, and his eyes opened and closed like lightning and thunder. He was none other than the "Gouchen Emperor who "rules all thunder"!

"I've met my mother!"

After Ziwei Emperor and Gouchen Emperor entered, they bowed respectfully to Doumu Yuanjun, who was already seated, just like filial sons in an ordinary family.

Especially the Ziwei Emperor, after bowing, his face shrouded in starlight seemed to turn towards summer.

"When I, Qianxia, ​​was promoted to the Qi Fortune Dynasty, I didn't choose 'Ziwei Divine Kingdom' when choosing two out of three... I wonder if this top-tier True God will be angry about it..."

Summer thought to herself.

However, I soon realized that I was overthinking it.

The latter gave him a slight nod, which was not only directed at Yaochi, but also clearly at Xia Tian himself!

Summer's mind raced, guessing that it was because the "Fragment of the Purple Star Emperor" that had fused with her body had created some kind of subtle connection and resonance with this Lord of Stars.

"The Earth Goddess Houtu and the Goddess Mazu have arrived..."

The announcement from the Curtain-Roller General continued.

This time, two heavyweight goddesses once again appeared together.

The Goddess Houtu was draped in a divine robe with patterns of the earth and mountains. Her face was kind and compassionate, and she exuded a profound aura that nourished all things and carried the cycle of life and death. As soon as she appeared, the entire Yaochi seemed to become more stable!

Mazu, dressed in a ceremonial robe and wearing a jeweled crown, radiates divine light, carrying the vastness of the ocean and the power to protect believers; her aura is pure and peaceful.

Houtu Niangniang (Goddess of the Earth) needs no introduction. Her title, "Houtu Huangdiqi" (Emperor of the Earth, who inherits the laws of Heaven, possesses great virtue and shines brightly), represents the ultimate status of the Mother Earth and is one of the main deities "worshipped" in Qianxia today...

In fact, Qianxia has now obtained its "broken divine kingdom" and is attempting to formally establish the "Six Paths of Reincarnation" system in order to improve order and deliver the souls of the dead.

However, due to the lack of a core lineage and a supreme authority as a catalyst, there are still many problems to solve... Although we now know that what we see before us is probably just a mark, perhaps it can dispel our doubts...

The worship of Mazu has lasted for thousands of years in the coastal areas of China, with its incense burning brightly. In a sense, the sheer number of believers and the frequency of worship make it a leader among Chinese folk beliefs.

After all, countless fishermen and ordinary people in the coastal areas may not worship "Lord Guan" every day, but they will certainly sincerely pray for Mazu's blessing, which shows how deep their faith is.

Houtu Niangniang's gaze was gentle as she swept over Xia Tian and Wu Song, lingering especially on Wu Song for a moment before softly saying, "The new ruler of the underworld has just established order. I hope you will act with compassion, perform just deeds, appease the souls of the dead, and stabilize the balance between Yin and Yang."

Although Wu Song was not good with words, he could feel the weight of the words, so he clasped his hands and said in a deep voice, "Wu Song will do his best!"

Mazu smiled slightly at Xia Tian: "The king's fortune is connected with all people, and the sea frontier also belongs to the king. I hope that Your Majesty will benefit all people and protect the people along the coast in the future."

Summer responded solemnly.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, both land and sea are the lands where our people live, and Xia Tian will never forget them."

Summer nodded in agreement.

At the same time, I couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

Then, Azure Dragon Mengzhang God, White Tiger Jianbing God, and Vermilion Bird Lingguang God all transformed into human form and came to the Peach Banquet!

One after another, true gods who usually only existed in legends, who could be called leaders of their respective regions and pillars of the human race, arrived, making this "Jade Pool Banquet" a grand affair.

Roughly speaking, there are more than ten beings at the "True God" level here.

This doesn't even include those who are deeply hidden and whose aura is obscure, such as the "Antarctic Immortal," who are suspected to be true gods!

"Is this the foundation of the former 'Number One Celestial Court of Humanity'? Truly... terrifying!"

Even though Xia Tian knew perfectly well that all of this was most likely just a re-enactment of the past glory, activated and reproduced by the Earth's will with its supreme power.

But being personally immersed in this magnificent scene of ten thousand immortals paying homage and all the gods gathering, he couldn't help but feel his heart surge with emotion and find it hard to contain himself...

After all, not long after entering the Eternal Land, Qian Xia had already forged an irreconcilable enmity with the abyss-like "Spider Queen Rose" and her followers.

The drow elves, lurking in the shadows and acting with cunning and ruthlessness, have always posed a far greater threat and trouble to Qianxia than ordinary alien races...

"Now that all the guests have arrived... let the grand feast at Yaochi begin..."

Finally, a gentle yet dignified female voice came from the deepest part of the Jade Pool.

Immediately afterwards, several figures radiating divine light gracefully emerged from behind.

The leader was dignified and noble in appearance, with a graceful demeanor. She was shrouded in a hazy fairy light, possessing both the benevolence of an empress and the majesty of a ruler of female immortals.

It was none other than the Queen Mother of the West, a true human goddess whom Xia Tian had met once in the "Illusory Realm of the Great Void"!

Following behind her was the magnificent "Bluebird" she had seen that summer, whose aura had clearly reached the level of a "quasi-true god".

Next came the "Seven Fairy Maidens," beautiful and elegantly dressed, standing on either side, each holding various celestial musical instruments.

The Queen Mother of the West is a true "ancient goddess," whose legends can be traced back to even older texts such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas. At that time, her appearance may not have been entirely human.

But now, just like the True Martial Emperor, they appear in the form of perfect human emperors and empresses, which is undoubtedly an acknowledgment and respect for the status of the "human race"!
"You...have arrived!"

The Queen Mother of the West's gaze pierced through the layers of immortals and gods almost instantly, landing on the young girl Yaochi. Her gaze was complex and indescribable, containing concern, reminiscence, and a sense of relief... (End of Chapter)