Under One Person: I Opened the Age of Mythology

Chapter 577

Venus read aloud the details recorded in the merit book, word by word, from Nezha's battle against the fragments of chaos, to Yang Jian's use of his Heavenly Eye to dispel illusions, and then to Sun Wukong's self-sacrifice to form an array. Every heroic deed and every act of selflessness resonated in the hearts of the immortals and gods in the hall.

When the reading reached its most moving parts, even the fairies covered their faces and wept, and the celestial officials sighed with emotion.

After reading the register of merits, Venus bowed deeply and said, "I earnestly hope that the Great Sage will take this matter into consideration, reward those who have made contributions, so as to comfort the heroic spirits of the Three Realms and to demonstrate the majesty of the Heavenly Court!"

He held the celestial edict high above his head with both hands, and the radiant light illuminated the entire Qitian Palace.

Inside the hall, all was silent, and all eyes were focused on Sun Wukong on the throne.

Sun Wukong nodded slightly, a golden light flashing in his eyes. He raised his hand to signal Taibai Jinxing to rise, and said in a deep voice, "What Jinxing said is absolutely right."

He rose from his throne, strolled to the front of the hall, and glanced at the familiar and unfamiliar faces inside.

He saw Nezha's slightly tired yet still resolute face, Yang Jian's undisguised weariness between his brows, and the armor bearing the scars of many more heavenly soldiers and generals.

"You all deserve great credit for quelling the Dark Star Rebellion this time."

Sun Wukong's voice was loud and clear, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.

"I am very pleased."

He paused slightly, his gaze falling on Nezha and Yang Jian: "Especially Nezha, the Third Prince, and Yang Jian, the True Lord, are fearless in the face of danger, possessing both wisdom and courage, truly pillars of the Heavenly Court!"

Nezha clasped his hands in a respectful bow, saying, "It is all thanks to the Great Sage's great blessings; this disciple dares not take credit for it."

Yang Jian also bowed slightly and said in a deep voice, "For the peace of the Three Realms, I would gladly die ten thousand times."

Sun Wukong nodded in satisfaction: "Nezha, I hereby appoint you as the Marshal Who Subdues Demons, to command the Heavenly River Navy, to manage the defense of the Heavenly River, and to protect the peace of the Three Realms!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of praises erupted in the hall.

"Yang Jian, I hereby appoint you as the God of Justice, to be in charge of the Heavenly Laws and Decrees, to reward the good and punish the evil, and to maintain order in the Three Realms!"

Sun Wukong continued.

Yang Jian bowed again: "Your subject obeys the decree!" Once again, a thunderous roar of congratulations resounded in the hall.

Afterwards, Sun Wukong rewarded the other immortals and gods who had contributed to quelling the Dark Star Rebellion, bestowing upon them elixirs, magical treasures, and celestial positions. For a time, the Qitian Palace was filled with golden light and celestial music, a scene of jubilation.

After the bestowal of rewards was completed, Sun Wukong raised his hand to signal for quiet. Once the commotion in the hall had subsided, he proclaimed in a loud voice: "Today, I issue an edict to proclaim to the Three Realms that chaos has been eliminated and peace has been restored!"

His voice was like a resounding bell, echoing throughout the heavens and earth.

"And promulgated new heavenly laws, stipulating that anyone who commits crimes and disrupts the order of the Three Realms shall be severely punished! At the same time, showing compassion for the people, taxes will be reduced or exempted, production will be encouraged, and all beings in the Three Realms will be allowed to recuperate and thrive!"

Sun Wukong's voice was powerful and resonant, every word carrying weight.

Afterwards, he held a banquet in the Qitian Palace to entertain all the immortals and gods and celebrate the end of this calamity.

Celestial music filled the air, fine wines and delicacies were served, and the Qitian Palace was filled with a joyous atmosphere.

At the banquet, Sun Wukong sat around a table with Buddha, Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and others, raising their cups to drink together.

"Laojun, this Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Formation is truly wondrous!"

Sun Wukong raised his cup in respect to Laozi.

Laozi stroked his beard and smiled, "Great Sage, you flatter me. This formation is the result of the combined efforts of Buddhism and Taoism, not the work of this old Taoist alone."

He took a sip of wine and continued, "Although this chaotic power is dangerous, it also contains infinite possibilities. If it can be used properly, the pure spiritual energy it transforms into can greatly benefit the well-being of all living beings in the Three Realms."

The Buddha nodded in agreement: "What Laozi said is very true. This chaotic power is the original power at the beginning of heaven and earth, containing infinite vitality."

He looked at Sun Wukong and said meaningfully, "Great Sage, your sacrifice to form this formation is of immeasurable merit. Your understanding of the power of chaos must have deepened as well."

Sun Wukong laughed heartily: "I feel so comfortable and relaxed all over!"

He raised his glass.

"Come, everyone, let's drink to the future of the Three Realms!"

Yuanshi Tianzun also raised his wine cup and smiled, "Excellent!"

Amidst the clinking of glasses and laughter, until late at night, Sun Wukong dismissed the immortals and gods and went alone to the Peach Garden.

The moonlight, like water, spilled over the peach orchard, and each peach emitted an enticing fragrance.

Sun Wukong strolled through the peach grove, and finally, he came to the peach tree that had weathered countless storms and sat down cross-legged.

He gazed at the twinkling stars in the sky, his thoughts racing.

Chaos has been dispelled, and peace reigns in the Three Realms, but this is only the beginning.

Where will the Three Realms go in the future?

How should he fulfill his duty and safeguard this hard-won peace?

A night breeze rustled the peach tree branches, as if in response to his deep thoughts.

Sun Wukong closed his eyes slightly, sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy between heaven and earth, and gradually found the answer in his heart.

He slowly opened his eyes, which shone with golden light, firm and confident.

"I, Old Sun, will definitely protect these Three Realms!"

He said softly, then stood up and walked towards the direction of the Qitian Palace.

He stood up, patted the fallen leaves off his robe, and the leaves drifted down with the breeze, swirling and dancing in the moonlight.

The aroma of peaches filled the air, refreshing and delightful.

In the distance, the glazed tiles of the Qitian Palace shimmered under the moonlight, appearing exceptionally majestic and magnificent.

Sun Wukong strolled along, recalling his conversation with Buddha, Laozi, and Yuanshi Tianzun.

Laozi mentioned a method to improve the well-being of all living beings in the Three Realms by using the pure spiritual energy transformed from the power of chaos, which made him quite interested.

"Pure and spiritual energy..."

He muttered to himself, rubbed his chin, his brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed.

"That's a good idea. I'll have to think about it carefully later."

He walked to the entrance of the Peach Garden and happened to run into the patrolling heavenly soldiers.

"Great Sage!"

The two heavenly soldiers quickly bowed.

Sun Wukong waved his hand: "Why are you still patrolling at a time like this?"

"Reporting to the Great Sage, this is a routine patrol to ensure the safety of the Peach Garden."

One of the heavenly soldiers answered respectfully, while the other gripped his halberd with slight nervousness.

Sun Wukong nodded, noticing the fine beads of sweat on the forehead of the nervous heavenly soldier, and said with a smile:

"Don't be nervous, I, Old Sun, am not a monster."

Sun Wukong reached out and patted the heavenly soldier on the shoulder. A gentle stream of immortal energy flowed through his palm into the soldier's body, dispelling his tension.

"Relax," Sun Wukong's voice was cheerful, like a spring breeze. "The Three Realms are at peace now, and with me watching over the Peach Garden, nothing will happen." The heavenly soldier looked at Sun Wukong gratefully, and his tense body relaxed. He smiled shyly, revealing two tiger teeth.

“What the Great Sage says is true; I was overthinking it.”

Another heavenly soldier chimed in, "Great Sage, your divine might is unparalleled! With you here, what is there to fear in the Three Realms!"

The night breeze gently rustled the leaves of the peach orchard, filling the air with a faint fragrance of peaches.

Sun Wukong offered a few words of encouragement to the patrolling heavenly soldiers, then turned and left, returning to the Qitian Palace. The palace was empty and silent, with only a few ever-burning lamps casting a soft glow that illuminated the palace's magnificent golden decorations.

Sun Wukong strolled to the throne, but did not sit down. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, looking up at the murals on the ceiling depicting auspicious clouds and mythical beasts, and fell into deep thought.

The ideas of Laozi regarding the pure spiritual energy swirled in his mind. How to make the most of this power to benefit the Three Realms was the core of his thought at this moment.

Sun Wukong summoned the celestial official on duty and ordered, "Bring me paper and pen."

The celestial official accepted the order and left. Before long, he returned with a stack of fine Xuan paper and a wolf-hair brush inlaid with gemstones, and came before Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong walked to the table, picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, and then began to write furiously on the rice paper.

His calligraphy flowed like dragons and snakes, revealing his expectations and plans for the future of the Three Realms. He outlined his vision of how to guide the pure spiritual energy to the mortal world, nourish all things, and improve the lifespan and aptitude of mortals, all without disrupting the balance of heaven and earth.

The hall was quiet and still, with only the scratching of pen on paper and the occasional murmur of Sun Wukong.

After finishing writing, Sun Wukong carefully rolled up the plan and handed it to the celestial official, instructing him: "Send this plan to the Tushita Palace, ask Laozi to review it, and ask him to offer his valuable suggestions."

The celestial official took the plan, carefully placed it in a brocade box, and quickly left the Qitian Palace.

Sun Wukong turned his gaze to the outside of the hall. The night was deep, and the sky was dotted with stars.

After dealing with the plan for the Pure Spirit Qi, he thought about the defense of the Heavenly Court. After all, the Dark Star Rebellion had just been quelled, and the Heavenly Court's defenses needed to be restored and strengthened as soon as possible.

He then summoned Nezha and Yang Jian, and the three gathered at the Qitian Palace to discuss how to strengthen the Heavenly River Navy and the Heavenly Court's law enforcement teams in order to cope with possible future crises.

"Nezha, as the newly appointed Marshal of the Demon-Subduing Army, what are your thoughts on the development of the Heavenly River Navy?" Sun Wukong spoke first, his tone solemn.

Nezha clasped his hands and replied, "Reporting to the Great Sage, this humble general believes that the Heavenly River Navy needs to strengthen its training to improve individual combat capabilities, while also paying attention to formation drills to enhance coordinated combat capabilities."

Yang Jian also expressed his opinion: "The Heavenly Court's law enforcement team also needs to strengthen its training, strictly enforce the law, and ensure the implementation of the Heavenly Laws and Decrees."

The three of them discussed the matter at length in the Qitian Hall, and finally determined a new training plan and patrol scheme, which were then implemented by the heavenly soldiers and generals at all levels.

The sky outside the window was gradually turning a pale white, and a new day was about to begin.

Sun Wukong concluded by announcing: "Three days from now, a banquet will be held in the Qitian Palace to reward all the immortals and gods who participated in quelling the Dark Star Rebellion, and to formally announce the new Heavenly Court system and policies."

Nezha and Yang Jian accepted the order and left, and the Qitian Palace returned to peace.

After explaining these matters, Sun Wukong felt exhausted. He rubbed his temples, turned around, and walked into his bedchamber.

The bedroom was simply furnished, with an antique bed in the center and a small table beside it. On the table were several books and an incense burner, from which the sandalwood incense wafted, emitting a faint fragrance that was refreshing and pleasant.

Sun Wukong walked to the bedside, took off his battle boots, lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and prepared for the victory celebration banquet three days later.

He exhaled a soft breath and muttered to himself, "Finally, I can catch my breath."

Sun Wukong lay in bed, but his thoughts did not stop.

The dishes for the victory banquet, the arrangements for the guests, the announcement of the new system... all these things flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

He turned over, reached for the book on the small table beside the bed, and casually flipped through it.

This was a book recording ancient mythical beasts and strange tales, richly illustrated and vividly depicted. He casually flipped through a few pages, then put the scroll back in its original place.

He sat up, reached for the flint beside the incense burner, and gently tapped it. Sparks flew onto the unburnt ash in the incense burner, rekindling a stick of sandalwood incense.

The rising smoke, with its calming effect, helped Sun Wukong relax slightly.

Meanwhile, Nezha hurriedly returned to his residence.

He pushed open the gate, and several guards immediately bowed in salute.

"Third Prince".

Nezha waved casually and walked straight into the mansion.

As he walked, he untied the Hun Tian Ling (a type of sash) from his waist and casually tossed it to a maid beside him.

The maid quickly took it and carefully folded it.

Nezha walked into the main hall, plopped down in a chair, picked up the teapot on the table, and gulped down several mouthfuls.

"Somebody come!"

he shouted.

A guard rushed in immediately and knelt on one knee: "What are your orders, Third Prince?"

"Go, summon Li Tianwang here!"

Nezha gave the order, his tone tinged with anxiety.

The guard obeyed and left, while Nezha rubbed his temples and began to think about how to implement the new training plan.

Meanwhile, Yang Jian returned to Guanjiang Estuary.

The celestial dog wagged its tail and happily came to greet him, rubbing against his legs.

Yang Jian bent down and patted Xiaotianquan's head, a faint smile appearing on his face.

The six brothers from Meishan had been waiting in front of the mansion. When they saw Yang Jian return, they all stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Second Master!"

Yang Jian nodded slightly, indicating that they should dispense with the formalities.

"Are you all aware of the new patrol plan?"

Yang Jian asked, his tone calm and steady.

"Understood, Second Master," the six Meishan brothers replied in unison.

"I've already assigned the tasks, and the brothers are actively preparing," Kang added, adjusting his glasses with a serious expression.

Jian nodded and said, "This chaos in the Dark Star was quelled thanks to everyone's efforts. The new patrol plan carries great responsibility, and we must not take it lightly."

"Don't worry, Second Master, we will do our utmost to protect the peace of the Heavenly Court."

Boss Kang reiterated his assurance.

Yang Jian patted him on the shoulder as encouragement.

He then turned and walked toward the study, with his dog, Xiaotianquan, following closely behind him.

Inside the study, Yang Jian sat at his desk, unfolded a map of the Heavenly Court, and carefully studied the new patrol route.

He marked some key locations on the map with a pen and thought about how to optimize the patrol plan and improve efficiency.

The celestial dog lay at his feet, quietly keeping him company.

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(End of this chapter)