164: Conferring titles upon the gods, unifying the universe.

Above the Northern Ice Field, Chu He vanished from the spot along with his family, who were returning with a full harvest.

In the next moment, they had already returned to the palace on the Fifth Layer of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda.

"You're back!"

Lin Waner, Zhao Linger, and the others who had stayed behind immediately came forward to welcome them. Although they had seen the battle through Su Qingxue's Formation, their hearts only truly settled when they saw their husband and children return safely.

"Husband, outside..." As the mistress of the house, Lin Waner was meticulous and immediately noticed the abnormality in the outside world.

Chu He's Divine Thought swept out, and he "saw" the group of Xuanhuang Realm "big shots" standing stiffly outside the world of fire, like prisoners awaiting judgment.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a playful smile.

"Just a bunch of little mice who've had the courage scared out of them," Chu He said dismissively. "I originally thought about spending some time after the battle to give them a warning, but I didn't expect them to be so sensible as to deliver themselves to my doorstep."

He understood their hearts clearly. These people used to be arrogant, viewing the Chu family as outliers and even harboring faint hostility. Now that they had witnessed his strength, they had immediately changed their tune.

Chu He didn't particularly dislike or like such fence-sitters.

However, his perspective was different now.

In the past, he might have found these people an eyesore and wiped them out on a whim. But now, his goal was the sea of stars and the high-and-mighty Star-Devouring Demon Emperor.

A single Xuanhuang Realm was too small for him. However, as a stable rear base and resource production site, it was more than suitable.

And to manage this base, he would always need some errand runners.

Although the people before him lacked strength, they were, after all, the heads of their respective forces. Using them as "foremen" would save him a lot of trouble.

"Waner, Qingxue, come outside with me. Children, go play on your own; there will be rewards later," Chu He instructed.

"Yes, Father!" The children cheered and scattered like birds and beasts.

Chu He took Lin Waner and Su Qingxue by the hand and took a step forward, his figure appearing above the world of fire, before the massive light curtain of the "Myriad Heavens Star Domain Guardian Divine Array."

When Chu He's figure appeared, the hundreds of top experts of the Xuanhuang Realm outside the light curtain all trembled in unison.

An indescribable Divine Might, like the entire firmament collapsing, pressed down firmly upon each of their Divine Souls.

Thud! Thud!

Without needing a single word, the group of Soul Transformation Ancestors, led by the Old Emperor of Great Yan and the Holy Master of Taixu, all knelt down in unison, their foreheads pressed tightly against the scorching ground, not even daring to breathe loudly.

They didn't even dare to look up at Chu He's face.

In their perception, the Chu He before them was no longer a person; he was the Dao, he was the Law, he was the sole Dominator of this world.

Any trace of a disrespectful thought could bring about heavenly retribution.

"Greetings, Heavenly Venerable!"

It was unknown who spoke first, their voice filled with sobbing and trembling.

Immediately after, a sound like a mountain tsunami erupted.

"We greet the Heavenly Venerable! May the Heavenly Venerable live forever!"

Chu He looked down at the dense mass of "immortals" kneeling below, his heart completely unmoved.

Beside him, Lin Waner and Su Qingxue, though they had long known of their husband's power, were still shocked and filled with pride to witness all the rulers of the Xuanhuang Realm prostrate at his feet.

"Rise."

Chu He's voice was very calm, yet it was like a Heavenly Dao decree, ringing clearly in everyone's ears.

The crowd felt as if they had been granted a great amnesty and stood up tremblingly, but they still kept their heads bowed, not daring to look directly at him.

The Grand Elder of the Taixu Holy Land, the old man who had been injured by Chu He's aura, was the first to shuffle forward, holding a Storage Ring high with both hands.

"Sinner Li Taixu, previously blind and failing to recognize Heavenly Venerable Chong Lou, has specially prepared thirty thousand years of our Taixu Holy Land's savings, ten ten-thousand-year Spirit Medicines, and three Dao Artifacts to come and plead for forgiveness from the Heavenly Venerable! I only beg the Heavenly Venerable to spare the lives of the hundred thousand Disciples of my Taixu Holy Land!"

After speaking, he kowtowed heavily, looking like he was waiting for execution.

"Please forgive our sins, Heavenly Venerable!"

With a leader, the others followed suit, scrambling to rush forward and offer the most precious treasures of their Sects, their words humble to the extreme.

For a time, the radiance of various rare treasures soared into the sky outside Chu City.

Chu He found this scene somewhat amusing.

This was human nature—fearing power but not cherishing virtue.

He didn't look at those treasures; to him now, these things were only considered added bonuses.

He waited until everyone had finished "pleading for forgiveness" before slowly speaking.

"Your crimes are indeed not small."

This single sentence caused the hearts of the people who had just stood up to instantly jump into their throats. Their legs went weak, and they almost knelt down again.

It's over! The Heavenly Venerable still intends to settle accounts!

"As Cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm, when faced with the invasion of the Outer-Realm Heavenly Demons, you not only failed to contribute, but instead cowered on the sidelines, hoping to watch the tigers fight from a safe distance," Chu He's voice suddenly turned cold. "This is your first crime."

"This seat guarded Xuanhuang and protected the living beings of this realm. Instead of thinking of gratitude, you harbored many suspicions and disrespect behind my back. This is your second crime."

"Now, seeing this seat's Divine Might, you come to wag your tails and beg for pity. Such fence-sitting behavior is despicable. This is your third crime."

With every crime Chu He listed, the faces of the crowd below turned a shade paler.

When the three crimes were finished, everyone looked ashen-faced, with only despair left in their hearts.

However, just when they thought they were certainly dead, Chu He's tone shifted once more.

"However, considering that your cultivation was not easy, and that the demonic tribulation has passed and the Xuanhuang Realm is in need of reconstruction, this seat is unwilling to create more slaughter."

"Phew..."

The wild joy of surviving a disaster caused many Old Ancestors to collapse on the spot.

"The death penalty is spared, but punishment cannot be escaped," Chu He's voice carried no emotion. "From this day forward, the Xuanhuang Realm shall be ruled by my Chu family."

"The Eastern Continent, Western Desert, Southern Border, Northern Plains, and Central Province—all Sects, Imperial Dynasties, and Holy Lands are hereby disbanded and reorganized into the Five Departments of the Heavenly Court."

"You shall serve as the Immortal Officials of the Five Departments, managing this realm on behalf of this seat, collecting resources, and educating the masses."

"Seventy percent of all resources shall be turned over to the Heavenly Court, while thirty percent shall be kept for your own development."

"This seat has only one requirement: within a thousand years, I want everyone in this Xuanhuang Realm to be like a dragon, with Soul Transformations everywhere and Nascent Souls treated like dogs. Can this be done?"

Chu He's words were like bolts of thunder exploding in everyone's minds.

Disband the Sects? Reorganize into a Heavenly Court?

This was to completely change the structure that had existed in the Xuanhuang Realm for millions of years!

But who dared to say a single "no"?

In the face of absolute strength, any resistance was a joke.

Moreover, the grand vision of "everyone like a dragon" that Chu He painted gave them a glimmer of hope amidst their fear.

"We... obey the Heavenly Venerable's decree!"

The Old Emperor of Great Yan was the first to react, kneeling down again and speaking with an incredibly loud voice.

"We obey the Heavenly Venerable's decree! We are willing to serve the Heavenly Court, even unto death!"

Everyone shouted in unison, their voices filled with fanaticism.

An era ruled by a god had descended.

Chu He nodded with satisfaction. With a wave of his hand, he collected all the tributes and then said to the crowd, "All of you may disperse. As for the specific regulations, in three days, my wife Lin Waner will announce the Heavenly Laws; you need only comply."

After speaking, he ignored the crowd and took Lin Waner and Su Qingxue back to Chu City.

He left behind a group of "newly appointed Immortal Officials" outside the light curtain, their expressions complex, filled with both awe and excitement, unable to calm down for a long time.