Chapter 1260: The Heaven-Opening Conference
According to historical records, in the early days of the Great Dou Dynasty, though the Pillar Minister had thrown the imperial court into chaos, the nation flourished under the wise and mighty reign of the Dou Heavenly Emperor.
Commoners could freely converse with the Dou Heavenly Emperor and even participate in court assemblies to voice their opinions. This was a privilege unheard of in any prior dynasty.
After the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s persuasion, the Four Ancient Immortals had the honor of joining the Great Dou Dynasty.
“Here, the First-in-Command said these plaques are for you.” Yun Mengmeng handed each of the Four Ancient Immortals a blank plaque, signifying their lack of an official rank, and stuck one to each of their chests.
“These are little gifts for you. Welcome to our Great Dou Dynasty!” She also gave each of them a small paper bag.
“Many thanks, Young Friend. That’s thoughtful of you.”
As Yun Zhi’s good sister and the Third-in-Command of the Everlasting Lineage, it was only natural for them to address her as “young friend.”
The Four Ancient Immortals were slightly surprised. Such ample preparations. Was this planned in advance?
They opened the packets to find a mix of seeds and candies, just like every other attendee at the meeting. They snacked on the seeds as they chatted away.
After Yun Mengmeng left, Zhu Tian finally found an opportunity to express his loyalty to Lu Yang. “Big Brother Lu, if there’s anything you need from Little Zhu, just say the word. Even if you want the stars in the sky, I’ll pluck them down for you!”
He spoke with such earnest conviction that Lu Yang was moved. “You can even pluck stars?” Lu Yang’s expression grew peculiar. He’s the Demon Monarch after all. What a bold claim.
Catching the skepticism in Lu Yang’s tone, Zhu Tian couldn’t let it stand. “Of course! I’m not bragging. For us ancient cultivators, plucking stars and capturing the moon were common pastimes for us after meals.
“Big Brother Lu, you don’t believe me? Once this meeting is over, I’ll pluck one for you!”
“No, no, no. I have no interest in plucking stars.” Lu Yang hastily restrained Zhu Tian. Even the Tiger Tribe isn’t as tigerish and rash as you.[1] If Zhu Tian actually goes and plucks a star, it’d be disastrous.
“Monarch Zhu, if you have the time, perhaps you could craft a wooden tea set.”
“A tea set?” Various designs flashed through Zhu Tian’s mind, and he readily agreed. “No problem.” He decided to start working on them once he returned.
“Then I shall not disturb you further, Big Brother Lu. Call me if you need me.” Zhu Tian waved goodbye enthusiastically. My relationship with Lu Yang isn’t very close. A brief interaction to build rapport is beneficial, but lingering too long will backfire.
Soon, Zhu Tian set his sights on his next target at the meeting.
“Monarch Jiang, long time no see.” He approached the Xia Emperor.
Zhu Tian didn’t have any real business with the Xia Emperor. It was simply that among all attendees, in terms of status and cultivation, if the Xia Emperor dared claim last place, Zhu Tian dared claim second-to-last place. It was an age-old principle that the bottom two should band together for warmth.
“Your Exalted Majesty, everyone has arrived. Whom do you deem fit to preside over the meeting?” Yun Zhi walked over and asked. Initially, she planned to organize the meeting herself. But on second thought, since she was now a member of the Great Dou Dynasty, she figured she should leave the decision to the Everlasting Immortal Fairy.
“Xiao Yangzi, of course,” the Everlasting Immortal Fairy replied without hesitation.
“Ah? Me?” Lu Yang hadn’t expected such a major responsibility to fall upon his shoulders. I’m merely at the Basic Transcendent Tribulation Stage, with only the Xia Emperor below me in cultivation. The reason I’m even present at this meeting is my backdoor connections.
“You are this immortal’s State Pillar. You hold the highest rank. Of course, it’s you.”
“Indeed. I also agree that Little Junior Brother should chair the meeting,” Yun Zhi seconded. “Your Exalted Majesty appoints virtuous and talented individuals. Truly the actions of a wise ruler.”
“That’s a given. Look at who this immortal is.”
Lu Yang. “...”
The matter jointly decided by the Everlasting Immortal Fairy and Yun Zhi was not something Lu Yang could overturn. He had no choice but to steel himself as he stood before the ancestral temple. Clearing his throat, he announced the start of the meeting.
“As I believe all of you are already aware, the purpose of this meeting is to remove the ancient seal and let people in this world behold the true firmament.
“Therefore, I will name this meeting the Heaven-Opening Conference.
“Four hundred thousand years ago, Yao Sheng, the practitioner of Law Follows Words, employed despicable means to assassinate the Everlasting Immortal Fairy. The Four Ancient Immortals fought him for numerous rounds without a clear victor. Yao Sheng regarded all living beings as sacrificial straw dogs, governing life and death as he pleased. If he weren’t dealt with, catastrophe would have been inevitable.
“As such, the Four Ancient Immortals sealed the world, determined to eliminate that scourge.
“Just recently, Yao Sheng was vanquished. Now that the menace has been eliminated, there is no longer any need to maintain the seal.
“Hence, we have convened today to discuss the various matters concerning the removal of the seal. After all of you return, please ensure that the decisions reached at this meeting are duly implemented.”
Jiang Ping’an raised his hand. “Young Friend Lu, may I ask what the world outside is like?”
“Stars fill the sky in the outer world, and living beings inhabit them. However, the number of stars harboring life is exceedingly rare, and most living beings are unaware that life exists on other stars as well.
“Only a tiny fraction of living beings have advanced rapidly enough to traverse the universe and reach other stars, discovering that they are not alone in the universe.”
“And what about their cultivation?”
“There is probably no concept of cultivation as we know it in the outer world. As for their highest combat power, it wouldn’t exceed the Transcendent Tribulation Stage. Most planets’ inhabitants lack even the means to resist a Fusion cultivator.”
Jiang Ping’an was taken aback. So weak?
No wonder a meeting is necessary. When he first learned that removing the seal had to be a gradual process, he had assumed it was to prevent cultivators and mortals from becoming overly excited and causing chaos.
But from the looks of it now, that’s not the issue.
The cultivation world has many Fusion cultivators. Once the seal is broken, these Fusion cultivators can fly to stars harboring life and rule over them with ease. With a mere flick of their finger, they can bring about catastrophe to countless living beings.
In the cultivation world, Fusion cultivators still have Transcendent Tribulation cultivators and immortals above them. But in the outer world, it’ll be a different story. The seas will be vast for fish to leap, and the skies will be wide for birds to soar. Fusion cultivators can do whatever they want without supervision, and among them, there will surely be some who run completely wild.
Jiang Ping’an had lived through the late Great Yu era and knew all too well what atrocities unbridled cultivators were capable of. Toward the end of the dynasty, man-made disasters had surpassed natural calamities.
He had founded Great Xia and established laws to ensure everyone acted according to regulations, preventing cultivators from oppressing mortals.
“I propose that we establish strict laws and severe punitive measures. When necessary, we make an example of one to warn a hundred!” Jiang Ping’an spoke solemnly, revealing an undercurrent of killing intent at the end. Without bloodshed, those restless cultivators will never learn fear.
“The Buddhist Kingdom agrees with Fellow Daoist Jiang’s view.”
“The East Sea agrees.”
“The Demon Region agrees.”
Lu Yang nodded. Jiang Ping’an’s proposal was precisely what he had intended to say. “In that case, I shall trouble you seniors to discuss how the laws should be drafted after the meeting.
“As for dissemination, you can leave it to our Dao-Seeking Sect. The living-person printing technique we possess is low-cost and highly efficient. Even changing Cultivation Monthly to Cultivation Weekly will be a cinch.”
1. The character for “tiger” can also mean rash and reckless. ☜