The comet remained silent, only relentlessly unleashing heavenly tribulations.

After several rounds of tea, Fei Zhong's smile faded, and his expression became serious.

"Three years from now, the Heavenly Court will hold a grand assembly. Rumor has it that the Great Heavenly Venerable feels that the four lower departments are too scattered and their divine duties are in disarray, and intends to reorganize them. The Plague Department and the Finance Department have already been drafted. I wonder if Brother Song has any thoughts on joining the Plague Department?"

"Reorganize the next four parts?"

Song Yi was startled and pondered to himself.

The lower four departments are in charge of the stars, mountains and rivers, rain and clouds, and the gods of good and evil. Their names are vague and their powers overlap. They do need to be rectified, but I never expected that day would come so soon.

However, even if the Plague Department is established, it will still be Lü Yue's one-man show. Entering it will only add a title, how can it enhance the power and authority of the priesthood?

However, blindly clinging to the old ways will also lead to stagnation.

Song Yi's mind raced, but his expression remained unchanged. He countered with a question: "What are your thoughts on this, Lord Fei?"

Fei Zhong leaned closer: "I have some old acquaintance with Bixia Yuanjun, Yu Hualong. Yuanjun is planning to write to the Great Heavenly Venerable, and together with her five smallpox gods, who are her five sons, she will establish a separate 'Smallpox Department'. If this matter succeeds, I intend to serve under Bixia Yuanjun and make a name for myself."

"If the acne clinic could establish itself independently, it would indeed be a good place to go," Song Yi readily agreed.

However, he did not immediately give a definite answer in the face of Fei Zhong's veiled attempt to win him over.

He knew perfectly well that Fei Zhong, representing the Smallpox Department, was only trying to win him over by gathering more manpower to build up strength for future confrontation with the Plague Department.

Moreover, the acne department is a typical "family department," with a father and five sons controlling the core. If an outsider like myself were to rashly join, I would never have a chance to get ahead.

The two talked for a while longer, tentatively exploring each other's thoughts, before Song Yi got up to take his leave.

Before leaving, Fei Zhong personally handed Song Yi the can of "Tianhe Shuiyun Tea" and smiled as he escorted him outside the hall.

……

Sitting alone in the empty and desolate Broom Star Lord's Temple, Song Yi frowned slightly, pondering repeatedly how to break the deadlock.

After much deliberation, the only way out at present was through his sworn brother Jiang Ziya, who was still alive.

Although Jiang Ziya was only a nominal disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun and held a low position in the Jade Void Palace, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was cannon fodder. However, his performance during the Investiture of the Gods was truly remarkable.

Not only did he successfully complete the task entrusted to him by Yuanshi Tianzun and safeguard the interests of the Chan Sect to the greatest extent, but he also got along well with the second and third generation disciples of the Chan Sect during the Investiture of the Gods process, and was extremely popular.

Song Yi knew that if he wanted to gain some power in the Heavenly Court, he would probably have to ask his sworn brother for help.

However, now that he is the Zhou Tian Star Lord, descending to the mortal realm without permission is a violation of heavenly law, and the consequences will be extremely serious.

After much deliberation, Song Yi finally came up with a plan.

-----------------

South of the Jambudvipa, in the state of Qi, lies Yingqiu.

It was the dead of night, the Milky Way was ablaze with stars, and a shooting star suddenly streaked across the sky, dazzling and spectacular.

Deep within the royal palace, candlelight flickered.

Jiang Ziya sat upright at his desk, holding bamboo slips in his hands, reviewing memorials.

After assisting King Wu of Zhou in overthrowing the Shang dynasty, he was granted a fiefdom and established the State of Qi.

The State of Qi has only been established for a century, and everything is in need of rebuilding. This founding monarch often reviews memorials until late at night.

"well……"

Jiang Ziya rubbed his temples and yawned.

Even practitioners, in their advanced age, inevitably experience moments of fatigue.

The candlelight flickered, and Jiang Ziya's eyelids grew heavy. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep at his desk.

In a daze, the palace doors made a soft sound.

"Brother Ziya, it's been a hundred years since we last met. How have you been?"

A familiar voice came from behind.

Jiang Ziya suddenly looked up and saw a person slowly walking in from outside the main hall, wearing a divine robe, with starlight faintly swirling around him.

"Brother?!"

Jiang Ziya looked closely and was overjoyed. He quickly put down the bamboo slips in his hand, stood up, and cupped his hands, saying, "So it really is my elder brother! It's been a hundred years since we last met; I've missed you terribly!"

After saying that, he immediately pulled Song Yi to sit down and ordered the servants to bring over the imperial wine.

"Brother, how do you feel after a hundred years of godhood?" Jiang Ziya asked with concern as he filled his wine cup.

"It's a mixed bag," Song Yi said with a sigh as he took the wine glass.

"Back when we were in Chaoge, I used the Jade Void Secret Technique to divine my brother's fate. He was clearly destined for great wealth and honor, and to die a natural death. I never imagined that my brother would also be unable to escape the calamity of the Investiture of the Gods." Jiang Ziya's tone was tinged with emotion.

"Back then, the Zhou army was ravaged by plague, and even my virtuous brother was on the verge of death. I searched for medicinal herbs to send to Xiqi, but they were intercepted on the way. Fortunately, my virtuous brother was blessed with good fortune and managed to escape the calamity." Song Yi slowly spoke.

"I never imagined that my brother would die for me..." Jiang Ziya said solemnly.

"That's all ancient history, why bring it up?" Song Yi waved his hand, picked up his wine glass, and said, "We brothers haven't seen each other for a hundred years, let's drink to our hearts' content!"

The two toasted each other, and after a few rounds of drinks, they had finished their drinks.

Jiang Ziya put down his wine cup and asked seriously, "Brother, has something come of your own accord?"

Song Yi's smile faded, and he sighed, "My fate is unfortunate. I was named the Broom Star Lord, in charge of all bad luck and filth in the mortal world—a malevolent star in Heaven. According to the Heavenly Laws, such a star lord would inevitably be assigned to the Plague Department or the Smallpox Department. However, as you know, both departments are controlled by the Jie Sect. Lü Yue, Yu Hualong, and others are either master and disciple or father and son—they are impenetrable. If I were to go, I would surely face all sorts of difficulties. Therefore, I humbly request that you, my brother, help me find another stable job in Heaven..."

……

"Ugh!"

A biting night wind suddenly rushed into the hall, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker.

Jiang Ziya shivered and suddenly woke up from the large table.

The hall was empty and silent, with only two servants waiting with their heads bowed in the corner. The drinking and merriment they had just shared seemed like nothing more than a dream.

"It was my brother who appeared to me in a dream!"

Jiang Ziya stroked his long beard, understanding dawning on him.

He pondered for a long time, then stood up and ordered his men, "Prepare the carriage; I'm going to Qianyuan Mountain."

……

On the comet.

Song Yi formed a hand seal, and the Seven Treasures Profound Yellow Pagoda floated above his head, with wisps of profound yellow energy descending and enveloping his entire body.

"receive!"

With a wave of his hand, Song Yi sent the pagoda into a streak of light that disappeared into his brow.

At this moment, his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and his face was slightly pale.

Just now, he took advantage of the moment when the comet was closest to the Qi Kingdom in the Southern Continent, and with the help of the star's origin and the power of the Seven Treasures Xuanhuang Pagoda, he forcibly crossed the boundary to deliver a dream to Jiang Ziya.

Even though he could unleash power comparable to that of a Golden Immortal on his own natal star, casting spells across the barrier between immortals and mortals, and across the boundless starry sky, still greatly depleted his vital energy.

Moreover, Jiang Ziya was no ordinary person; he was a cultivator with the true cultivation level of an Earth Immortal.

Fortunately, although the term "earth immortal" contains the word "immortal," they are ultimately still mortal and belong to the realm of the human world.

Only by achieving the status of a celestial immortal can one truly become a follower of the immortal path.

That is why the Primordial Celestial Venerable said that Jiang Ziya would find it difficult to achieve immortality and could only enjoy worldly riches.

"Now that everything that needed to be done has been done, let's see just how powerful Jiang Ziya really is!" Song Yi muttered to himself.