NOVEL NEXT Chapter 622: Heavenly Immortal Court
Dragon roars and phoenix cries reverberated across the Primordial Realm. Nine dragon phantoms and nine phoenix phantoms burst forth from the heavenly throne and into the sky—their roars and cries never stopping, constantly spreading. The dragon and phoenix song filled the Primordial Realm and extended beyond. Though fainter, many people still heard it in the lower realms. The closer the lower realm, the clearer the dragon and phoenix song was. In the lowest realm, only those with fate or exceptional perception could hear this song.
Anyone who heard this song would feel as if their body had a dragon or a phoenix within. Ordinary mortals would become healthier, and the risk of sickness became near zero. It might not seem like much at first, but it was invisibly raising their potential if they embarked on the immortal path. The talents of this era would surpass all the eras that came after. Historians would even call this era the Era of Geniuses.
This was the grace of the new Heavenly Empress to all creatures in the Three Thousand Immortal Realms System. Although they did not know what benefits they received, the mortals lowered their heads and prayed fervently.
If it was only blessing the mortals, the immortals would not feel much. But as the nine dragons and phoenixes soared in the sky, the myriad laws revealed themselves. True immortals who had reached a dead end, or those who could not sense the worldly laws, found themselves enraptured as their comprehension rapidly increased. Many immortal lords stuck at the last step found inspiration and broke their shackles.
Many immortal monarchs also found inspiration. They either chose to further deepen their comprehension of their primary law or comprehended the five elemental laws to increase their cultivation base one step further—from a first-step monarch to a second-step monarch. Many talented ones even crossed two steps, like Monarch Fiendblood, who rose to a fifth-step monarch from a third-step monarch.
Monarch Fiendblood was an elder even during Tianyi's time, before he became an immortal. Only, his talent was subpar, and he only managed to become an immortal monarch through a fortuitous encounter. After that, he continued to comprehend the laws, but progress was slow for him. Still, he persevered with his powerful willpower.
His situation could not be said to be uncommon. There were many immortal monarchs who reached the end of their potential. Some were younger, and many were even older. With his merits, Monarch Fiendblood could have become an immortal official, but he did not want to be bound. He continued to accumulate and comprehend the mysteries of the five elemental laws, hoping to break through. His efforts bore fruit on this day, and he directly reached the peak of the Seamless Immortal Realm.
Under this light, many venerables and saints in the lower realms summoned the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Tribulation. With the benefits, they directly cleared the heavenly tribulation and ascended to the Primordial Realm. There were countless more ascensions from lower-rank and intermediate-rank realms. This was truly a day that would go down as miraculous. The tides of time would eventually drown this piece of history, but right now, everyone could only marvel at it.
Even immortal emperors felt touched—but only touched. This benefit was much easier to accept than when the worldly laws were exposed during the Divine Beast Pseudo-System's merger with the Three Thousand Immortal Realms System, because this was a blessing granted to them, and not an opportunity they had to seek with their own power. Conversely, the upper limit of benefit was lower, but the lowest limit granted grace to a much larger population.
Of course, the closer they were to the Heavenly Empress, the greater the benefit they received. This included the guests from other forces. It might seem the Immortal Court was strengthening their enemies, but so what if they were strengthened? Even if they produced a few immortal sovereigns, they were still ants in front of divinities. Not to mention that, while accepting the benefits, they would acknowledge the identity of the giver. For those who only wanted benefits but subconsciously rejected the giver's identity, they would receive little to no benefits at all.
And compared to the benefits gained by them, the biggest beneficiaries were still members of the Immortal Court. Thanks to this Divine Ascension Ceremony, they regained new true immortals and monarchs to replace the ones lost in the Hegemon War against the Numinous Sword Sect.
This ceremony lasted for nine days. For these nine days, night did not descend, and the day never ended. At the end of these nine days, the radiance dimmed. It was slight at first, so slight that only the most perceptive of the bunch noticed. Many more noticed when the light continuously dimmed. Accompanying this change was the weakening grace.
All of them bathed in the light felt reluctant at the diminishing benefits, but they still felt heartfelt thanks. No matter their character—whether they were arrogant, selfish, kind, wise, or any other trait—gratitude emerged from their hearts. The more benefit they received, the more gratitude and acknowledgment they returned.
At this moment, the title of Heavenly Empress was solidly attached to Xi Mengfei. When the light returned to normal, the blue sky appeared dim because of the loss of radiance, but the myriad phenomena continued. The whooshing clouds, stringing grass, rattling leaves, and flowing rivers all merged together to form an earthly song unheard of since the primordial era. It was as if the world itself was welcoming the arrival of the Heavenly Empress.
Tianyi blinked and looked up. He was a little mentally fatigued, and the nine days of grace had zero effect on him. If anything, he did not want to accept it because he felt traces of the Heavenly Dao. Once again, he felt the Heavenly Dao's influence.
Golden clouds slowly gathered above Central Peak. Unlike the black clouds, they exuded a sacred and solemn aura. Simultaneously, the Heaven Seal appeared above Xi Mengfei. The cracked seal still looked incomplete, and it released a divine aura that made all beings want to bow to it.
That sensation only increased when the clouds transformed into merit and flowed into the Heaven Seal. It did not replace the missing parts of the Heaven Seal, but the cracks disappeared. Simultaneously, it emitted a particular coercion. Anyone who underwent a heavenly tribulation would recognize the aura of the Heavenly Dao.
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Finally, the myriad phenomena ended one day later. The Heavenly Empress sat on her throne, but her figure in everyone's vision drifted away. Those on the mountain who could once see her figure in their hearts could only see a small dot in the middle of the immortal palace. Those not on Buzhou Immortal Mountain, including those in the lower realms, all lost sight of this heavenly figure.
Except for people in the vicinity of an Immortal Stele, where Tianyi continued to stream the Divine Ascension Ceremony to them. No, this was no longer a mere Divine Ascension Ceremony, but the Heavenly Empress Ascension Ceremony.
As the final step to complete ascension, the members of the Immortal Court—be it members of the Emperor Hall or the emissaries in the lower realms—all knelt and honored her.
"""We greet the Heavenly Empress!!!"""
Even non-members were influenced and subconsciously followed the Immortal Court's example. Even if they could not see her figure anymore, the gratitude in the myriad lives of the Three Thousand Immortal Realms System all followed suit.
As if acknowledging their words, the Heaven Seal flashed once, having absorbed all the golden clouds of merit, and fell into Mengfei's palm. The Heavenly Empress Ascension Ceremony had come to an end, and the myriad creatures of the Three Thousand Immortal Realms could no longer sense her from across realms.
But the Immortal Court didn't dismiss everyone. Mengfei raised her hand, silenced all the hushed whispers, and brought forth complete silence as if by magic.
"From henceforth, the Immortal Court shall be the Heavenly Immortal Court!"
Without waiting for acknowledgment, she continued.
"Come forth, Minister Everpast."
The wizened immortal sovereign came forward and knelt down.
"Everpast is present!"
Mengfei raised her hand, and the world moved in conjunction.
As soon as she finished speaking, golden clouds rose into the air, as if to celebrate the birth of the North Divine Emperor. Simultaneously, the aura of Immortal Minister Everpast rose and broke the limit of the Origin Immortal Realm. He couldn't be called a true divinity, but was closer to a half-divinity.
The outsiders present didn't know what the North Quadrant meant, but the members of the Immortal Court did. Internally, the Immortal Court divided the Three Thousand Immortal Realms System into five quadrants: the Central Quadrant, East Quadrant, South Quadrant, West Quadrant, and North Quadrant. The Central Quadrant included the Primordial Realm and thirty percent of the high-rank realms, while the other four quadrants shared between fifteen to twenty percent.
Naming Minister Everpast—no, Divine Emperor Everpast—the lord of the North Quadrant essentially gave him great control over a vast amount of land. In the North Quadrant, he could increase his faith and use it all for himself or bestow it to his subordinates. Faith might not matter to most immortals, but for immortal officials and divinities of faith, it was inescapable.
Of course, Divine Emperor Everpast could only use the forces under his control to spread his faith or other beliefs. He could not command Tianyi or use the Immortal Steles. And even if he spread his religion, it must be compliant with the Immortal Court's official mythology.
Still, that did not detract from the immense power of the North Divine Emperor. It was also possible to form a Northern Immortal Court and rule the North Quadrant. Of course, it still had to be subservient to the Heavenly Immortal Court.
"Thank you, Heavenly Empress!" Divine Emperor Everpast said. He stood back up and stood in his new position.
Following that, silence reigned. Mengfei had lowered her hand back onto the armrest, but observers could see her muscles twitching. The silence continued, and the members of the Immortal Court couldn't help but become worried. This was not part of what they planned.
Thankfully, Mengfei spoke again, relieving them of their worries.
"Come forth, Grand Elder Nin—"
As if someone pressed the pause button, Mengfei's words halted. Her mouth was still open, but no words came out.
Tianyi frowned. According to the plan, he should come forward and be named the West Divine Emperor, but for some reason, his mother did not follow the routine. Originally, the Heavenly Court wanted to appoint three divine emperors in this session, but the other candidate, Grand Elder Zhang Cuiying, had died. Meaning that two divine emperors should be appointed at this Heavenly Empress Ascension Ceremony.
Was becoming the Heavenly Empress too big of a burden for her? Tianyi couldn't help but worry. He had thought that everything was part of the procedure. At least, he didn't see anything wrong during the entire process, so what happened that he couldn't notice?
Not just him—the high echelon of the Heavenly Immortal Court also started to worry.
Finally, Mengfei moved again. She closed her mouth, but opened it soon after.
"Court is adjourned."
After saying those words, it was as if a curtain of stars appeared and separated the dais from the rest of the world. Although it was slightly awkward, the immortal officials, led by Divine Emperor Everpast, stepped forward to take care of everything and the aftereffects.
Tianyi stood half a step behind Divine Emperor Everpast. If everything had gone to plan, he would have been the West Divine Emperor, so he could stand side-by-side with Everpast. Unfortunately, the plan changed. Even if he did become a conferred divine emperor, Tianyi would only stand there. Most of his mind was focused on sending the emissaries and the trainee priests back to their home realms.
He wanted to find his mother. Unfortunately, his duties did not allow him to do that right now. Like with teleporting them to the Primordial Realm, it took a long time for Tianyi to send them back. By the time he had finished, all the guests had returned to their forces.
Finally alone again, Tianyi appeared in the immortal palace. He stood in front of the curtain of stars and walked forward. He thought he would walk straight through and see his mother, but before he realized it, he had walked out the way he came in.
Tianyi frowned. He turned around and walked in, this time mobilizing his power over spacetime. The moment he did so, he felt a sense of rejection. His eyes opened wide because he could feel his mother's divine essence within the star curtain rejecting his approach!