Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 948 - 804 Decree Announcement

Chapter 948: Chapter 804 Decree Announcement

"Third-Rank Taoist Record..."

"I scored first place in the examination in my younger years, and for decades, I’ve toiled diligently for the Taoist Court, only recently obtaining the ’Supreme Court Three Caves Five Thunders Talisman’ of the fourth rank..."

Zhang Zichun couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart and asked, "What if he still refuses?"

Eunuch Wang’s eyebrows instantly stood on end, "The emperor’s grace directly bestows a Third-Rank Taoist Record, what an honor is that? If he still disobeys, then naturally he is a traitorous official and should be executed!"

The rule of the Taoist Court is embodied in the Taoist Records.

To disregard the Taoist Records, to refuse restraint, and not to willingly expose one’s vulnerabilities for manipulation by superiors, to hence leave one’s life and death at their mercy, is naturally to be deemed a rebel!

Many recalcitrant gods were forced into rebellion in just such a manner.

...

Black Cloud Mountain.

Mei Changkong carried a huge bamboo basket on his back and held two plump parcels in his hand, moving briskly through the mountain forest.

Although he was an Immortal Cultivator, it was a pity he was a poor, helpless Cultivator without even a Storage Bag on his person.

Since being assigned the role of ’Head of Procurement’ by Fang Xi, he had lost count of how many times he had done this.

Mei Changkong arrived at a certain spot on the mountain peak, where he saw that a Mountain God Mansion was already taking shape.

At the entrance stood a stone archway.

An old man, short in stature with a sly look in his eyes, saw Mei Changkong and immediately smiled, "You’ve finally arrived... Bai Tongzi has been waiting for you for a long time."

"Some of the items I procured this time were needed by the Mountain God Lord, hence the delay," Mei Changkong explained, handing over a roast chicken to Old Song.

The roasted chicken was wrapped in oil paper, and upon opening, it was still warm and emitting an enticing fragrance.

Old Song’s eyes lit up at once, "Matters of the Mountain God Lord surely take precedence over our arrangements of the Dongfu... It’s rare for you to remember this old man’s fondness for this, but what about Bai Tongzi’s brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and the books, and the doe’s cosmetics?"

"All here, all here..."

Mei Changkong put down the parcels, his mind faintly intrigued.

These mountain spirits and demons, once transformed into human form, were quite envious of the Mortal World.

Unfortunately, without the Mountain God Lord’s express permission, they dared not descend to the mortal realm on their own and could only ask him to procure some items for them.

Luckily, they also offered compensation, such as Spirit Fruit and pine nuts, which were still quite good.

Even if Mei Changkong didn’t hold them in high regard, considering his wish to maintain good relations with the subordinates of the Mountain God Lord, he naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Just then, his senses suddenly sharpened, and he felt a wild wind sweeping by.

This wind was not a mountain breeze, but carried with it waves of Yin Qi.

"Is this... Yin Wind?!"

Mei Changkong immediately formed a Magic Spell, his eyes flashing with a hint of brilliance.

Then he ’saw’ outside Black Cloud Mountain, clouds of dark mist gathering.

Within those clouds of mist were, unmistakably, a multitude of ghost soldiers with expressionless faces, donned in black armor, led by ghost generals, all unfurling their banners.

Deities such as the City Gods and Mountain Gods, who are ’fixed Earth dwellers,’ often cultivate Taoist Soldiers.

The City God manages Underworld Soldiers and Underworld Generals, and on the Dragon Lord’s side there are shrimp soldiers and crab generals. When properly trained, they become formidable during wartime in the Divine Domain, and can greatly amplify divine power.

Moreover, their arrival is always a grand sight!

"It’s the City God of Panlong Prefecture making an inspection round!"

Looking at the banners being unfurled, Mei Changkong said.

"It’s actually the Prefectural City God!"

Old Song was startled, nearly dropping the roast chicken in his hand.

Compared to Mountain Gods and Water Gods, a City God is a deity of the human realm, wielding vast powers from the worship of incense, and has a plethora of heroic individuals from the human race to serve as Yin Soldiers and Ghost Soldiers. Their strength actually far exceeds that of Mountain Gods and Water Gods of the same Divine Rank.

But remembering that their own Lord was gifted and had risen from a Fourth-Rank deity, Old Song clenched his hands tightly, managing not to drop the roast chicken.

"Is the Black Cloud Mountain God present?"

Surrounded by Yin Soldiers, Zhang Zichun’s figure suddenly became immensely tall, radiating Golden Light, and he shouted, "Heaven’s envoy has arrived, will you not come forth to welcome us swiftly?"

This was part of the plan he and Eunuch Wang had devised earlier, to arrange their Array first, to intimidate before proceeding.

Many Innate Gods were coerced in this fashion, initially weaker in spirit, then gradually pressured step by step, until finally ensnared and compelled to worship the Taoist Court.

Once worshiped, once having received the decree, even if they later wished to recant, it was no longer possible.

At the stir from Black Cloud Mountain, a flash of earthy Radiance showed.

A young Mountain God appeared, looking at Zhang Zichun, "City God of Panlong Prefecture? And an emissary from the Taoist Court?"

By Eunuch Wang’s side stood two golden-armored divine generals. Upon hearing the term ’emissary from the Taoist Court,’ their brows furrowed, displeased.

All under heaven is the Emperor’s soil; at the edge of the land, all are the Emperor’s subjects.

If you accept the title of ’Heaven’s envoy,’ it is to acknowledge the Taoist Court as ’Heaven,’ which already places one in a subordinate position, making many things easier to handle.

But only being addressed as ’emissary from the Taoist Court’ immediately put him on edge, aware that this task was indeed not going to be easy.

’If it really can’t be done, then we must proceed to subjugate... The nearby Lianyun Mountain God and Lord of Panlong Lake have both received enfeoffment from the Taoist Court, and could be summoned with a decree.’

Eunuch Wang fondled a golden token hidden in his sleeve, his eyes filled with a cold intent.

"A decree has arrived!"

With a flash of light in his hand, a brilliant yellow imperial edict appeared, "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Black Cloud Mountain God, rich in blessings, be entitled with Godhood Position by divine decree, and be appointed for worship..."

With his divine status, while proclaiming the imperial edict, an indescribable pressure descended from the Void.

This was the majesty of the Taoist Court’s rule over this part of the World!

Under the Taoist Law, Old Song and Bai Tongzi, among others, simply couldn’t bear it and ended up kneeling directly.

"This..."

Mei Changkong’s bones creaked loudly, but he bit down hard, his lips bleeding, yet he ultimately did not kneel.

’Is this the might of the Taoist Court? Just pronouncing the imperial edict is like this; if the decree was to kill me, wouldn’t I have no choice but to submit to execution, even to die with a smile?’

Mei Changkong felt the unfathomable might of the Taoist Court, his Dao Heart nearly breaking in despair.

Fortunately, at this moment, there was still one person, or rather, one god!

Fang Xi stood proudly in mid-air, surrounded by golden cyan patterns pulsing around him, his face calm, "Are you done?"

"Black Cloud Mountain God?"

Zhang Zichun’s heart swelled with jealousy, showing no signs of it on his face, instead he said, "The Taoist Court stands at the pinnacle of all gods’ paths; our respected god has been included in the sacrifices to enjoy a third-rank... This is an emperor’s grace. Why do you not quickly appreciate the favor?"

This was sheer deception.

The moment this god gave thanks for the emperor’s grace, he would be trapped!

After knowing the secrets, Zhang Zichun harbored many dark thoughts in his heart.

Why should these naturally born spirits be carefree and even get promoted in Divine Rank?

Should they, the gods of the human race, have their lives and deaths at the mercy of the will from above?

This is unfair!

Of course, everyone should be brought into the court system, treated without distinction; only then does true ’benevolence’ emerge!

At that moment, there was dead silence all around, quietly awaiting the choice of the young Mountain God!

"Hehe!"

Suddenly, laughter emerged.

It was Fang Xi, who suddenly broke into helpless laughter.

"Black Cloud Mountain God, in front of the heavenly envoy, you must not be rude. Why do you not quickly receive and thank for the imperial favor?" Zhang Zichun coldly commanded.

Accompanied by countless Underworld Soldiers and Generals, he did possess some momentum.

"You are but a rural deity, ignorant of royal laws; I can forgive you once, but if you do not show appreciation, you will only be reduced to ash!"

Eunuch Wang’s voice was shrill, and the imperial edict in his hand turned into a radiance of five colors, within which there was also a Taoist Record, falling towards Fang Xi.

’So this even comes with coercion?’

Fang Xi was also witnessing this kind of imperial edict for the first time and was indeed eye-opening, opening his hands.

The divine power of golden cyan appeared, forming two large hands that grasped the imperial edict and Taoist Record in hand; only then did he say, "I am graced by heaven with my godhood position; strictly speaking, I am an officer of the Heavenly Court and not under the jurisdiction of the Taoist Court in the Mortal World! Therefore, this decree from the court, I must decline!"

This was actually a privilege of all naturally born beings!

Alas, some fail to see the situation clearly, others are simply deceived, and by actively entering the court system, it’s akin to giving up the golden bowl of the Heavenly Court for a clay one, and any regret afterward comes too late.

Crack!

As his voice fell, the five-colored imperial edict was instantly torn to shreds by Fang Xi.

On the other hand, the ’Supreme Court Great Cave Papyrus’ of the third-rank was suppressed by him, planning to take it to Falling Sky Island for research in the future.

"You dare defy the decree? Rebellion, rebellion!"

Eunuch Wang’s eyes immediately turned red, as if he wanted to devour Fang Xi alive.

The crux of any hierarchy of power lies in whether the subordinate obeys.

Now that Fang Xi expressed clear defiance and non-compliance... other than sheer military force to suppress, there indeed was no other way.

And if suppression isn’t swift, other gods might follow suit, leading to the dynasty’s collapse and a chaotic era where royal edicts cannot even leave the palace.

"Hehe, the Taoist Court really thinks highly of itself. Not under your jurisdiction means a rebel?"

Fang Xi shook his head, "I only know one thing: when others slander you for rebellion, it’s best that you actually are rebelling!"

He let out a long howl, and on his chest, five sigils appeared, transforming into the shapes of mountains, the innate divine skill ’Five Mountain True Form’!

Boom, boom!

In the sky, several giant mountains materialized out of thin air, five in total, resembling the Five Finger Mountain, crashing down!

The countless Yin Soldiers and Ghost Soldiers screamed, and before the Five Finger Mountains even landed, the terrifying gravity crushed their ghostly bodies, turning into streams of Yin Qi dissipating...

"Ah!"

Eunuch Wang screamed, his golden divine power bursting out, and the two golden-armored deities beside him stepped forward, their bodies instantly becoming immense, with four palms raised to the sky as if trying to hold up the mountains.

But in the next moment, the Five Finger Mountains continued to fall without hesitation, shattering the golden-armored deities’ arms, and then their divine bodies...

When the Five Finger Mountains were completely down, Eunuch Wang had long vanished, evidently completely annihilated...

"Heh... Such arrogance, yet unable to withstand even a single move from me."

Fang Xi burst into laughter, his eyes shifting to another place.

The ground flashed with light, and Zhang Zichun’s figure emerged, his face full of panic.

If Fang Xi hadn’t intentionally spared him just now, this fifth-rank city god would likely have followed Eunuch Wang to oblivion!

"I’ll spare your dog’s life today, go on, tell the Taoist Court, what if this Mountain God rebels?"

Fang Xi laughed heartily and delivered a kick with his right foot.

Zhang Zichun had no strength to resist at all, like a clay-colored ball being kicked far away...

"This..."

When Mei Changkong saw this scene, a glint flashed in his eyes, "Excellent! A real man should do just that!"