135: Chapter 135 The Heavenly Emperor Appears, the Cycle of Cause and Effect

Unknowingly, the starlight path beneath Jiang Hao's feet shifted, and he arrived near a familiar star—Wu Dong Star.

The Wang Family case that shook the Heavens and Myriad Worlds back then occurred here.

With a thought, he restrained his aura and, like the most ordinary pilgrim, landed before the largest Heavenly Court Temple on Wu Dong Star.

Compared to his memories, this temple had been expanded significantly, with upturned eaves and bracket sets, solemn and dignified, as the aura of incense condensed into faint golden auspicious clouds shrouding the sky above.

The front of the temple was bustling with people; Cultivators of various races and Mortals rubbed shoulders. Some had pious expressions while holding incense and candles, while others were covered in the dust of travel as if they had come from afar. It was lively but not noisy, in perfect order.

Jiang Hao followed the crowd into the main hall, his gaze sweeping casually. Enshrined in the hall was, naturally, his Heavenly Emperor statue, looking solemn and divine.

His gaze was quickly drawn to a group of people piously offering incense before the statue.

The leader was an elderly man with a steady temperament, wearing robes adorned with Qingmu patterns; his cultivation had surprisingly reached the Peak of the Great Saint realm!

Beside him followed several vibrant young people and a toddler about three years old whose eyes were darting around.

"Qingmu Yan?" Jiang Hao was somewhat surprised.

He had actually encountered that boy from back then.

He remembered this name, and he also remembered the image of that boy with a shattered Dao foundation, on the verge of death.

The little Cultivator who was almost destroyed back then had actually reached this stage after being healed; not bad.

Peak Great Saint, while not considered a top-tier powerhouse in today's world, was definitely a powerhouse who could make a Star Domain tremble with a stomp of his foot.

At this moment, Qingmu Yan was leading his juniors, respectfully offering incense and performing salutations.

In a gentle tone, he said to the group of Family disciples beside him:

"If not for the Heavenly Emperor's extra-legal grace back then, I, your Old Ancestor, would have long been a cripple, and our Qingmu Clan might have ceased to exist. This favor is heavier than Kunlun; you must remember it for all eternity and strictly abide by the heavenly laws to not fail the Heavenly Grace."

The boy and the young man beside him both nodded seriously.

The toddler being held also imitated the adults, clumsily clasping his chubby little hands and muttering in a milky voice:

"Thank you, Grandpa Heavenly Emperor..."

The little fellow was very cute, making everyone nearby burst into laughter.

Other pilgrims around also recognized Qingmu Yan, and low-voiced discussions drifted over.

"That's the Qingmu Family's Old Ancestor, Peak Great Saint, incredible!"

"I heard his Family discipline is extremely strict and he values rules the most. Didn't his Family produce a playboy a few years ago who relied on the Family's influence to bully others in the market? I heard it was even a junior he quite liked."

"Right, right, right, and what happened? Old Ancestor Qingmu personally arrested him. After verifying the evidence, he sent him directly to a branch of the Law Enforcement Hall and had him sentenced to a heavy punishment according to the law, without any favoritism at all. He's truly top-notch!" The speaker gave a thumbs up.

"The Wang Family fell, and the Qingmu Family rose, yet they remain so self-disciplined; it's truly admirable. This is what you call the cycle of heaven's principles, retribution is certain."

Listening to these discussions and looking at this harmonious, enterprising, and grateful Family, Jiang Hao felt that Qingmu Yan was indeed quite good.

The Universe is vast, and Karma is mysterious. A boy from back then could actually grow to this point and seemingly transform that thirst and awe for justice into a principle for managing his Family.

This, perhaps, could also be considered a form of fate.

His Divine Sense imperceptibly swept through the entire temple, and countless pious whispers of thought flowed into the lake of his heart like tiny streams.

"I pray for the Heavenly Emperor's protection, so that I can break through the Bottleneck during this seclusion..."

"May my mother's illness recover soon..."

"This believer sincerely prays to be blessed with a healthy son to continue the Family line..."

"I hope to be admitted to the Heavenly Court Preparatory Hall..."

"..."

Various wishes, simple and real, filled with the flavor of the Mortal world and the yearning for a better life.

The prayer for a son especially made Jiang Hao silent for a moment.

Is he treating me like the Child-Sending Guanyin?

"Since we happened to meet today, it can be considered fate," Jiang Hao thought. "Those who believe in me shall naturally receive some blessings."

He didn't make any move, only slightly stirred his thoughts.

Buzz!

In an instant, within the Wu Dong Star temple, that Heavenly Emperor statue suddenly burst forth with a gentle and bright golden radiance!

This light was not blinding, yet it was filled with indescribable vitality, peace, and dao rhyme, instantly enveloping the entire main hall.

This change appeared simultaneously on all the statues in the Heavenly Court Temples across All Realms that were being piously worshipped!

"A manifestation! The Heavenly Emperor has manifested!"

The people in the temple were first stunned, then erupted in earth-shattering exclamations and even more pious kowtowing.

Countless tiny golden specks of light showered down from the statue, fluttering about as if they possessed spirituality.

They drifted precisely toward every believer in the hall who was piously praying, silently sinking into their foreheads or bodies.

Immediately following that, a miraculous change occurred:

The Cultivator who had prayed to break through his Bottleneck felt his body shake violently. His aura surged, and the barrier that had troubled him for years actually loosened instantly, a look of wild joy appearing on his face.

The man praying for his mother's well-being felt the communication jade talisman in his bosom suddenly heat up, and his Family's excited voice came through:

"Mother's illness is suddenly gone! Her complexion is rosy, and she can even get out of bed!"

Several people who had prayed for their Family's safety and health felt their bodies lighten and their spirits become vigorous.

Qingmu Yan only felt a pure, gentle, and vast power surge into his body, quietly dissolving some tiny hidden flaws in his Dao foundation that even he hadn't noticed. His path ahead seemed to become slightly clearer and broader.

The juniors beside him also felt their minds become clear, and some of their confusion regarding cultivation was suddenly resolved.

The most interesting one was that little great-great-grandson. After inhaling a bit of golden light, he giggled and danced around, and on his tender little feet...

A faint golden flame pattern actually emerged indistinctly, vanishing in a flash, yet it was already extraordinary.

"Thank you for the Heavenly Emperor's grace!"

"The Heavenly Emperor protects us!"

Inside and outside the main hall, it was instantly submerged in endless wild joy, gratitude, and sobbing.

People knelt on the ground, many so excited that tears streamed down their faces as they kowtowed incessantly.

Qingmu Yan was first stunned, then so excited that even his beard was trembling slightly.

With another thud, he touched his head to the ground, his voice choking up:

"Qingmu Yan... kowtows in thanks for the Heavenly Emperor's profound grace. My Qingmu Clan shall never forget it for all eternity and will surely abide by the heavenly laws, upholding justice and maintaining our integrity!"

The Family disciples behind him also bowed deeply, each of them flushed with excitement.

A boy's voice trembled:

"Old Ancestor, I... I feel that my understanding of the third level of the 'Qingmu Eternal Spring Manual' is completely clear!"

Across the vast Heavens and Myriad Worlds, among countless stars and All Realms, as long as it was a Heavenly Court Temple being piously worshipped by believers...

...the statues all burst forth with the same golden radiance at the same moment, showering down blessing light specks containing vitality.

In a small temple in some remote Star Domain, an old woman was praying for her injured son.

Seeing her son's pale face turn rosy at a speed visible to the naked eye and his wounds scab over and fall off, she was instantly moved to tears, kowtowing repeatedly.

In some prosperous Heaven Domain, a nervously praying boy inhaled a light speck and only felt his mind become clearer than ever before, his confidence multiplying.

In countless places, the same exclamations, weeping, and shouts of gratitude rang out.

"The Heavenly Emperor protects us!"

"Thank you for the Heavenly Emperor's grace!"

"Mother, your eyes... you can see!"

A tsunami-like wave of gratitude and faith rose from the Heavens and Myriad Worlds, converging into an invisible torrent.

Jiang Hao stood on the edge of the boiling crowd in the Wu Dong Star temple, watching the excited and happy sentient beings.

Looking at those faces lit up by joy and hope, he revealed a smile; this feeling wasn't bad.