181: Chapter 181 The Main Event is Here

The immortals and gods throughout the hall collectively ceased their idle chatter, their gazes uniformly fixed upon the Heavenly Emperor Haotian on the high platform.

The oppressive atmosphere brought about by the previous standoff between the Saints was swept away, replaced by an unspoken, surging undercurrent.

Everyone understood in their hearts: the main event was about to begin!

Haotian raised his hand to gesture for silence, his semi-Saint pressure spreading steadily as his voice resonated throughout the entire Lingxiao Palace:

"Fellow Daoists, you all know that the Heavenly Court is the orthodoxy of the myriad immortals under the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World."

"However, to this day, the Heavenly Court still has a huge void in its core strength; there are very few Cultivators at the Realm of Grand Unity Golden Immortal or above, the positions of the three hundred and sixty-five orthodox gods are incomplete, and the positions of the Four Emperors have long remained vacant, making it difficult for the order of Heaven and Earth to be called a state of Perfection."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Saints and various immortals and gods in the hall, his tone solemn:

"At today's Flat Peach Banquet, besides discussing the Dao and feasting, I also wish to announce to the world: the Heavenly Court is opening its doors wide, sincerely recruiting ambitious Cultivators from across the world to enter our service."

"All who wish to join the Heavenly Court are friends of the Heavenly Court. Even if you do not become a deity of the Heavenly Court, you may become an External God of the Heavenly Court. Although there is no Heavenly Dao Karma to serve as a salary, you may still enjoy the Luck and protection of the Heavenly Court."

As his voice faded, a brief silence filled the hall, followed immediately by quiet murmurs of discussion.

The Saints and Hunyuan seated above each harbored their own thoughts, their expressions varied.

Shi Yan looked at Haotian, his tone slightly surprised: "He really knows how to build a faction! To think he even came up with the position of 'External God'?"

External God—judging by the description, it was somewhat similar to being an external hire; not recorded in the System, receiving no Heavenly Dao salary, and only appearing when needed to help the Heavenly Court do certain things in exchange for Luck.

"This move by Haotian really is intended to bring all the Grand Unity and Quasi-Saint Cultivators of the Primordial World under his banner."

By just hanging a name, if one encounters a little trouble in the future, one would have a background, all without having to worry about overly troublesome rules.

Including Shi Yan, the entire group of Saints and Hunyuan could be divided into three main schools of thought.

Shi Yan stood alone as one.

He neither calculated how to scheme against the Heavenly Court to gain more benefits, nor did he care about his clansmen going to Heaven. He could do nothing but sigh.

Grand Supreme Laozi and Nüwa belonged to the second.

Inaction; indifference.

Grand Supreme Laozi sat quietly with lowered eyes, the clear Qi flowing leisurely around him, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

He only had one precious Disciple under his tutelage, Xuandu, whom he spoiled too much to ever let him go to Heaven and serve as a laborer for Haotian.

Nüwa, who had long since returned to her seat, merely nodded faintly, her gaze calm, completely indifferent.

She was more extreme than Grand Supreme Laozi; apart from her, her Palace of Nüwa only had two living beings—Ling Zhuzi and Jin Ning. There were also some substandard creatures of creation that did not even possess complete intelligence.

As for the other Saints and Hunyuan, they counted as the third group.

They were single-mindedly focused on how to obtain greater benefits.

Yuanshi Tianzun had just swallowed a bellyful of frustration; at this moment, his expression softened slightly, but a sharp glint flashed rapidly in his eyes.

The Twelve Golden Immortals were plagued by the aura of calamity, and Guangchengzi's Grand Unity status was in jeopardy; if they could use this Opportunity to go to Heaven and wash themselves clean with Heavenly Dao Karma, his Chan Sect would surely return to its Peak.

Moreover, it would also strengthen the status of the Chan Sect as the orthodoxy.

By then, he would be able to go back to boasting about his Disciples' glorious Luck and deep blessed origins.

He tapped his fingertips lightly against the table, already calculating in his mind which Disciples he should select to go to Heaven.

Beside him, Master Tongtian curled the corners of his mouth into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, his eyes bright and lively.

The Jie Sect had always been a gathering place for the myriad immortals; the number of his Disciples was the greatest in the Primordial World, and there were countless excellent ones.

Even if they couldn't join the "orthodoxy," they could still hang the title of External God; accumulating little by little, this would also be a massive amount of Luck.

Zhunti and Jieyin exchanged a glance, a trace of distress and calculation flashing in both their eyes.

Because the Earth's veins in the West were damaged, the land was vast but sparsely populated, and resources were scarce, they had long been suffering from limited development. The Heavenly Court's divine positions held authority over Heaven and Earth; if they could occupy the positions in the Heavenly Court that possessed a Law related to Houtu.

By using the Heavenly Court's Luck and authority to nourish the West, the West would surely be able to accelerate its rise.

The Western Sect Disciples had not gone to Heaven before, and now they were scrambling to go; it was not that The Two Saints hadn't thought of it, but purely because it hadn't been worth it.

The Heavenly Court had just been established and had too few people; even if the Western Sect Disciples went to Heaven, they could not nourish the West. It was better to wait until the Heavenly Court was perfected in the future and then come to pluck the peaches.

Everything had been developing smoothly, but who could have expected that Haotian was actually about to become a Saint.

They had no choice but to settle for the next best thing and let their Disciples go to Heaven.

The Two Saints whispered a few words to each other, having already made up their minds, preparing to select Disciples to go and apply.

Below the high platform, the officials of the Heavenly Court were all in high spirits. Yaochi stood beside Haotian, her phoenix eyes smiling, her brows full of pride.

Venus Star stroked his long beard, nodding repeatedly, his eyes flashing with sharp light. There were also the commanders of the Heavenly Soldiers, officials of various departments, and others, all of them standing tall with chests puffed out, their hearts stirred with excitement.

The Heavenly Court was about to rise; even the Saints had to treat it with importance. Prosperity was right before their eyes, so how could it not fill everyone with heroic spirit?

Seeing that the atmosphere of the entire venue had been mobilized into place, Haotian said no more. He waved his sleeve violently, and the vast power of the Heavenly Dao surged out.

In mid-air, ten thousand rays of spiritual light shone, and the ancient and mysterious phantoms of deities slowly manifested, with golden light flowing and Dao scripts filling the sky.

These were precisely the positions of the three hundred and sixty-five orthodox gods, the Four Emperors, and some deputy gods.

Sun, Moon, and Stars, Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, Mountains and Rivers, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, the sequence of Morning and Dusk... the divine positions corresponding to every order node in Heaven and Earth appeared one by one.

Most of the divine positions were empty, with only the Law brilliance of the divine positions themselves flowing, clearly indicating the huge gap in the Heavenly Court today.

The positions of the deities hung above the Lingxiao Palace, their Divine Might vast and mighty.

Haotian spoke aloud again: "The Four Emperors, the three hundred and sixty-five orthodox gods—all the vacant positions are here."

"Divine positions have ranks, and authority has degrees, but the Opportunity is placed before everyone's eyes. Fellow Daoists, with Opportunity present, you may deliberate for yourselves. Those who are interested may come forward to register!"

Every gaze in the hall was fixed tightly upon the Divine List in mid-air, and the sound of clamor began to rise.

In the direction of the Human Race.

Earth Emperor Lieshan, Human Emperor Xuanyuan, and Chiyou looked at Fuxi, whose body was manifesting the Innate Bagua, and asked softly:

"Ancestor Xi, our Human Race is full of talent and can also go to Heaven to get a share of the pie. Do you have any divine positions to recommend?"

Fuxi heard this, the Bagua Dao rhyme flowing at his fingertips paused slightly; he looked up at the three of them and spoke in a flat tone:

"The Human Race already permanently occupies the Water Department divine positions, and there are not a few who want to join the Heavenly Court; Haotian will not let the Human Race meddle in other orthodox gods."

The main gods have real power, and the eternal positions are dividing Haotian's authority.

However, because of the help given when it was most needed, Haotian could not and would not show any dissatisfaction.

But when it comes to the election of other orthodox gods, he can still give special treatment, increasing the difficulty for the Human Race.

"The Human Race's goal should only be to think of deities like the Four Seasons Gods that are conducive to the development of Mortals."

Human Emperor Xuanyuan understood instantly upon hearing this and nodded: "Ancestor Xi's words are absolutely correct. Do not fight for real power; focus solely on positions that benefit the people."

Earth Emperor Lieshan and Chiyou also nodded to indicate they understood.

However, understanding was one thing, but Chiyou was still a bit dissatisfied.

He looked at Haotian, who was in high spirits on the platform, and felt disdain in his heart.

The Human Race has helped the Heavenly Court so much; not giving special treatment is one thing, but to actually increase the difficulty—what the hell?