Chapter 188: Promotions for Merit

The white clouds are floating, the time is rushing, and five months have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Zhuang Yan was sitting cross-legged in the Taixuan Jingshe in the residence of Yuji Zhenjun. He glanced into the jade book of the immortal official and found that the power of his incense was hundreds of times more than five months ago.

Zhuang Yan was extremely surprised, and immediately started searching for the secrets. He calculated with his fingers and found out that Lingtai Temple had become the most popular Taoist temple in Tianyao Mansion.

Zhuang Yan smiled helplessly. This is the real world. Most mortals don’t care about Taoism or Buddhism. They just want to know that you are effective.

Two guardian gods came to the world and destroyed Xiangji Temple as retribution to the governor of Tianyao Prefecture. Word spread like wildfire, and soon Xiangji Temple became the most popular Taoist temple in the entire Tianyao Prefecture.

Even Chen’s wish for a child was nothing more than a embellishment compared to the events in Tianyao City. At this moment, Zhuang Yan’s mind moved, and countless voices of prayers immediately appeared in his ears, hitting him like a tsunami.

Zhuang Yan immediately sealed these prayers in the Immortal Official’s Jade Book and would check them slowly later.

Right now there is one most important thing to do, that is, after all these years of “stealing incense from heaven” day and night, the power of heaven he has accumulated has reached a critical point, and he can already restore several very important abilities.

Zhuang Yan’s mind moved, and he instantly refined all the power of the Heavenly Dao. In an instant, infinite mysterious light began to shine around him.

In an instant, Zhuang Yan’s body was filled with brilliant light, and his physical body was sublimated to the utmost.

Just a moment later, Zhuang Yan opened his eyes again. He raised his hand and made a finger gesture. The myriad of brilliant lights around him immediately dissipated, and the infinite mysterious light also converged back into his body.

Zhuang Yan exhaled lightly, and then his mind moved, and several restored functions immediately appeared in his mind.

A total of four functions have been restored this time, namely: changing destiny, creating all things, being boundless and infinite, and being omnipresent.

{Change the world and change your fate}: Who says the way of heaven is unpredictable? I have my own way to change the world and change your fate.

{Creation of all things}: Creation of all things is the work of nature.

{Infinite and Unlimited}: My body is infinite, and my Dharma is unlimited.

{Omnipresent}: In the chaos of the ten directions, the three realms and all the heavens, in a single thought, it reaches everywhere.

“Good, good, good.” Zhuang Yan laughed and said, “From now on, even if the laws of nature change, they cannot limit me.”

Although he has not yet recovered all his abilities, at least he doesn’t have to hide from Tiandao as carefully as before.

After saying that, Zhuang Yan stood up. With just a thought, he disappeared from Taixuan Jingshe and appeared in Yuji Palace.

Seeing Zhuang Yan suddenly appear in the hall without any warning, General Bi Zhen, who was on duty here, was stunned for a moment, then quickly bowed and said, “True Lord.”

Zhuang Yan nodded, and then said: “General Bi Zhen, you go to Lingtai Mountain in the lower world and summon Fire Spirit Immortal and Tiger Vanguard to come to the heaven to see me.”

“Yes.” General Bi Zhen accepted the order, turned around and walked out of the hall, leaving the mansion and going to the lower world.

Not long after, General Bi Zhen returned to the True Lord’s Mansion and came to the Jade Palace to report: “True Lord, the two Taoist friends, Fire Spirit True Immortal and Tiger Vanguard, have arrived and are waiting to see you outside the palace.”

Zhuang Yan nodded and said, “Let them in.”

“Yes.” General Bi Zhen accepted the order, then turned and walked out of the Yuji Palace.

A moment later, True Immortal Fire Spirit and Tiger Vanguard stepped into the Yuji Palace one after the other, while General Bi Zhen was on duty outside the palace.

Fire Spirit Immortal and Tiger Vanguard came to the hall and bowed to Zhuang Yan, saying, “Greetings to the Immortal Lord.”

Zhuang Yan nodded slightly, then raised his hand and pointed to a row of sandalwood chairs on the right side of the hall and said, “Sit down.”

“Thank you, Master.” Both of them were old subordinates of Zhuang Yan, so there was no need for so many false formalities. Since Zhuang Yan had given the order to give them seats, they just sat down without so much politeness.

After the two of them sat down, Zhuang Yan asked the Fire Spirit Immortal, “Fire Spirit, it’s been six months since Tiger Vanguard returned to the mountain, right?”

Fire Spirit Immortal smiled and said, “Replying to Master, it has been more than six months.”

“Yes.” Zhuang Yan nodded and asked, “Then tell me, does he have the ability to be the god of Lingtai Mountain?”

Hearing this, Tiger Vanguard was stunned at first, and asked in astonishment: “What? Are you going to make me a mountain god?”

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, “I will transfer the True Immortal Fire Spirit to this True Lord Mansion to serve, and I will also hand over my position as the God of Lingtai Mountain to the next Mansion Prime Minister.”

When Tiger Vanguard heard this, he quickly asked, “Then the True Lord will not return to Lingtai Mountain in the future?”

Zhuang Yan was surprised and asked, “Why do you want to occupy the mountain and become the king?”

Tiger Vanguard said hurriedly, “How dare I? True Lord, you have given away the position of Mountain God, so you will not return to Lingtai Mountain in the future, right?”

Zhuang Yan laughed and looked at Tiger Vanguard and said, “Whose dojo do you think Danchi Ridge belongs to?”

Tiger Vanguard was stunned when he heard this, while Fire Spirit Immortal turned around and looked at him and said, “The True Lord’s residence is located in Danchi Ridge. Even if the True Lord is no longer the God of Lingtai Mountain, Danchi Ridge is still his place of practice. He can go back if he wants.”

Tiger Vanguard suddenly realized what was going on, and immediately clapped his hands and said with a smile: “So that’s how it is, then I feel relieved.”

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, “I thought you wanted to occupy the mountain and seize my dojo.” “Hahaha.” Tiger Vanguard touched his head and said, “I dare not occupy Lingtai Mountain even if I go to Lingshan Mountain.”

The Fire Spirit Immortal smiled, and then said to Zhuang Yan: “True Lord, in my opinion, with Tiger Vanguard’s ability, he is more than qualified to be the God of Lingtai Mountain.”

“Well, then it’s settled.” Zhuang Yan said, “In the next few days, an imperial decree will be issued, and True Immortal Huo Ling will come to my True Lord Yu Ji’s mansion to serve as the Shangshu.”

At this point, Zhuang Yan asked Tiger Vanguard: “Do you have any questions? Or do you have anything to say?”

Tiger Vanguard thought for a moment, then asked, “Master, I don’t have much to say, nor do I have any questions. I’m just afraid that I won’t be able to do a good job.”

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, “No one can do anything right from the start. Even a child can become a mountain god after a few years.”

“For this kind of thing, many people just don’t have the opportunity. It’s not difficult to be a mountain god, but the difficult part is not being able to do things down to earth. If you can do things down to earth, you can accomplish it easily in just one year, not to mention three years,” Zhuang Yan said.

Upon hearing this, Tiger Vanguard immediately stood up and bowed, saying, “I will follow the instructions of the True Lord.”

Then Tiger Vanguard asked again, “True Lord, since I am the successor to the position of Mountain God, what will be my position when Snake Vanguard returns?”

Zhuang Yan said, “The current Zhenjun Mansion will be your Lingtai Mountain Divine Mansion in the future. Another Lingtai Zhenjun Mansion will be built on Danchi Ridge. Snake Vanguard will serve as the Mansion Secretary and guard the Lingtai Zhenjun Mansion. You two are of the same rank and level.”

Tiger Vanguard bowed and said, “Yes, Master.”

Afterwards, Zhuang Yan took out two hundred kilograms of the Jade Green grapes given by the Unmoving Buddha and gave one hundred kilograms each to Fire Spirit True Immortal and Tiger Vanguard, and then asked them to go back and wait for the order from the Jade Palace of the Divine Sky in the Heavenly Court.

Daluo Heaven, Shenxiao Jade Palace, Taixuan Capital Province.

The Taixuan Envoy handed a memorial to the Taixuan Metropolitan Province Chief Envoy, Emperor Wenchang. Emperor Wenchang took the memorial and asked, “Whose memorial is it?”

The Taixuan Envoy quickly replied, “My Lord, this is a memorial from Lingtai Xianmiaoyu Jizhenjun.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenchang nodded, then immediately opened it and read it carefully.

After a moment, Emperor Wenchang said, “It is a memorial from True Lord Lingtai commending his subordinates for their achievements and the transfer of their subordinates’ positions.”

After saying this, Emperor Wenchang ordered Envoy Wenling to bring jade and silk, and ordered Envoy Taixuan to draft two appointment decrees.

After the final check, Emperor Wenchang stamped his immortal seal as the Grand Envoy of Taixuandu Province.

Afterwards, Emperor Wenchang presented the two decrees to Envoy Taixuan and said, “Submit them immediately to the Divine Sky Palace for approval.”

“Yes.” The Taixuan envoy bowed and nodded, then took the order and left Taixuan Province.

Not long after, Taixuan Envoy arrived outside the main hall of the Shenxiao Jade Palace. Two spiritual officials immediately stopped him and said, “In front of the Shenxiao Palace, report the arrival.”

The Taixuan Envoy quickly took out the imperial edict and said, “The Taixuan Metropolitan Province Immortal Official’s appointment order needs to be submitted to the emperor for approval. Please report it as soon as possible.”

The spiritual officer on the left said, “Please wait a moment.” Then he turned and went into the hall.

After a while, the spiritual official came out of the hall and said to Taixuan Envoy, “Emperor Donghua has summoned you to an audience. Please go in.”

After saying this, the two spiritual officers stepped aside and continued their duty.

Envoy Taixuan thanked him, then straightened his appearance and walked into the hall.

When they arrived at the hall, they saw hundreds of immortal officials, divided into two groups, civil and military, standing in the hall. Emperor Donghua, wearing the twenty-four mysterious chapters of the emperor’s crown and a crown on his head, sat high up in the hall.

There is one Chief Emperor and three Assistant Emperors in the Divine Heaven Jade Palace.

The chief emperor is Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, and the three subordinate emperors are Dong Wanggong, Xi Wangmu, and Zhongtian Fanqi Doumu Yuanjun.

But usually the three emperors take turns on duty, and Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun will only visit the Shenxiao Jade Palace at special times.

After paying homage, Envoy Taixuan presented the imperial edict in his hand. The Shaoqing beside Duke Dong took the order, walked up the steps of the palace and presented it to Duke Dong.

Duke Dong took the edicts and read them one by one, then nodded slightly and ordered the assistant minister beside him to stamp the seals of the Divine Sky Jade Palace and the Emperor Donghua on the two edicts, and then returned them to the Taixuan Envoy.

After receiving the order, the Taixuan envoy expressed his gratitude, then left the Shenxiao Palace and returned to the Taixuan Province.

Because the promotion and transfer of Fire Spirit Immortal and Tiger Vanguard were “internal” changes under Zhuang Yan’s authority and did not involve personnel changes in other ministries and departments, there was no need to report to the Jade Emperor; the Divine Sky Jade Palace could make the decision directly.

The next day, Taixuandu Province sent the order to the Human World Department, which immediately sent a messenger to the lower world to announce the order.

True Immortal Huo Ling was promoted to the sixth rank immortal official, and served as the Shangshu of the ‘Jade Extreme True Lord Mansion’ of the first heaven, assisting True Lord Lingtai Xianmiao in managing all affairs of the Jade Extreme True Lord Mansion.

Hu Xianfeng was promoted to the seventh rank immortal official, and was canonized as the “Lingtai Mountain God”. He lived in the Danchiling Mountain God Palace in Lingtai Mountain, and was in charge of all the affairs of the Lingtai Mountain God Palace.

At this point, the True Immortal Huo Ling bid farewell to the place where she first became a fairy official in the Heavenly Court, and officially got rid of the ranks of the “Xia Yuan” fairy officials, went up to the first heaven, and began her new career as a fairy official.

(End of this chapter)