The Saints’ breaths hitched when the Way of Heaven stared at them through Hongjun's eyes. The moment seemed to last for infinity, but in reality, it only lasted for a split second.
The Way of Heaven Hongjun only said one word before disappearing. "Tongtian."
At this, all the Saints' faces changed except Yuanshi. Tongtian glanced at her second brother and transmitted, "You don't seem surprised."
"Third Sister is the best candidate for the heavenly emperor. The Way of Heaven has no reason to refuse," Yuanshi replied, causing Tongtian's face to adopt a strange expression.
Their interaction only lasted for a brief moment as Hongjun regained control of his body, and fury flashed in his eyes before they became rippleless once more.
"The next ruler of the Great Desolation will be Supreme Purity Tongtian," he reiterated.
A few of the Saints glanced at Haotian and Yaochi. They weren't idiots; they had all clearly seen Hongjun glancing at his two attendants before the Way of Heaven descended. Between Tongtian and Haotian, they would rather have Haotian become the heavenly emperor, but the decision had already been made.
However, Hongjun's next words comforted them somewhat. "The title of Heavenly Emperor is too heavy for you to bear, and thus the power of the Heavenly Emperor should be split among the Six Great Emperors."
"The head of the Six Great Emperor is the Jade Emperor. Next is the East Great Emperor of Greenflower, who controls all species and assists the Jade Emperor in controlling the growth of lifeforms in the Great Desolation; the South Great Emperor of Longevity rules all spirits and assists the Jade Emperor in ruling over the blessings and misfortunes of the Great Desolation; the West Great Emperor of Curved Array, who controls all lightning and assists the Jade Emperor in managing the three talents of heaven, earth, and man, and military affairs; the North Great Emperor of Polaris who rules the myriad stars and assists the Jade Emperor in managing the sun, moon, and stars, and regulate the four seasons; and finally, the Great Emperor of Heaven Bearing, who controls the Underworld, Six Paths of Samsara, and the birthrate."
Hongjun wasn't done yet. He turned toward Haotian and Yaochi. "My attendants are transformed from Chaos Jade that bears yin qi and yang qi. You can bestow them with a position to aid you in managing the Great Desolation."
Upon hearing this, Tongtian's face remained unchanged, but Laozi's and Yuanshi's became unnatural. Yuanshi even had a hint of anger within. Jieyin, Zhunti, Nuwa, and Redcloud Ancestor all felt better after hearing this. Although Tongtian would still dominate the Heavenly Court, her control was no longer absolute.
He waved his hand, and two strands of light flew out. They entered Haotian and Yaochi's bodies, respectively, and engulfed them in light. When the light disappeared, Haotian turned into a man in his late twenties to early thirties bearing a noble and king-like aura. Yaochi transformed into a woman in her mid-twenties with exquisite features and a motherly aura. Both of them now exuded the aura of Quasi-Saints.
Tongtian cupped her hands and said, "Disciple thanks Master for the aid. I'll be sure to take care of Junior Brother Haotian and Junior Sister Yaochi."
Haotian and Yaochi looked at Tongtian, who was smiling at them, and they couldn't help but feel a chill. Haotian walked in front of Hongjun and kneeled. "Teacher, although we have entered the Quasi-Saint Realm, we do not possess any treasures. How can we help Senior Sister in managing the Great Desolation?"
Tongtian felt her lips twitch. Why did this scene remind her of Jieyin and Zhunti?
"You are right," Hongjun said with a nod and waved his sleeve. Four beams of light shot out and stopped in front of Haotian and Yaochi, two for each.
Tongtian eyes zeroed in on them. In front of Haotian were a silver and gold pagoda and a mirror. The pagoda was a top-grade innate spiritual artifact known as the Eight Treasures Vast Heaven Pagoda. It possessed the ability to trap Golden Immortals of the Great Firmament within itself and gather the powers of the sun, moon, and stars.
The second artifact was also a top-grade innate spiritual artifact. Known as the Vast Heaven Mirror, it can peer into all places in the Great Desolation. It was similar to the Kunlun Mirror in Tongtian's hand, but it couldn't traverse through space or rewind time. Instead, it could calculate the secrets of heaven.
In front of Yaochi was a golden hairpin shaped like a phoenix and a peach fruit. The golden hairpin was the Phoenix Firmament Hairpin, and it can concentrate the power of all the stars into a single point as an attack.
Tongtian had more interest in the second treasure Hongjun bestowed on Yaochi. If she wasn't wrong, this was a peach fruit from the Longevity Peach Tree, one of the top ten connate spiritual roots like the Immortal Gourd Vine and the Allheaven Jiangmu Tree.
The Longevity Peach Tree would bear three types of peaches every eon: three Firmament Peach Fruit, nine Unity Peach Fruit, and eighty-one Golden Peach Fruit. As their names suggested, those who ingested the Firmament Peach Fruit would immediately become a Golden Immortal of the Great Firmament, those who ate the Unity Peach Fruit would become a Golden Immortal of the Great Unity, and those that ate the Golden Peach Fruit would become a Golden Immortal.
Judging by its aura, the peach in front of Yaochi should be a Firmament Peach Fruit.
Haotian quickly accepted the artifacts and kowtowed to Hongjun. When he felt that no one was next to him, he glanced at Yaochi and pulled her down next to him. "Quickly thank the Teacher!"
Yaochi looked at Haotian and nodded. She bowed and knocked her head against the ground in the process. "Yaochi thanks Teacher." Her response was like a calm lake instead of Haotian's fiery volcano.
All the Saints took this in. Yuanshi couldn't help but give Haotian a disdainful snort. What was Haotian planning, overthrowing Tongtian? Tongtian was going to be the master of the Heavenly Court, why were you seeking Hongjun's approval? Do you think you can compete against her even if you become one of the Six Great Emperors?
"Since the matter of the ruler of the Great Desolation has been decided, this matter is finished. Go and manage the world well." After speaking, Hongjun's figure disappeared into the air.
With the Dao Ancestor gone, none of the Saints had any more reason to continue to stay inside Violet Heaven Palace. They left the Dao Ancestor's abode and traversed back to the Great Desolation. Haotian and Yaochi followed behind them, but how could Quasi-Saints compare to Saints? Had it not been for Tongtian, they would have long lost sight of the seven.
Along the way, Zhunti suddenly spoke to Tongtian. "Congratulations to Senior Sister for attaining the position of Jade Emperor. It seems the Heavenly Court is lacking people; I'm willing to have Maitreya take one position of the great emperors."
Tongtian returned a beautiful smile. "Junior Brother Zhunti's words make me very happy. It just so happens that I need someone to take the position of the Heaven Bearing Emperor. Maitreya seems perfect. With his compassion, all the souls will be reassured."
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Zhunti's expression stiffened. Out of all six positions, the Heaven Bearing Emperor was the most useless. Anyone conferred the position of the Heaven Bearing Emperor would have to contend with Empress Pingxin.
The Titan of Earth, Houtu, used her body to form the Underworld and create the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Empress Pingxin was made from her soul, and this connection gave her absolute power in the Underworld. Whoever became the Heaven Bearing Emperor would be just a useless ornament in front of Empress Pingxin.
Zhunti immediately backtracked. "I'm afraid that my disciple does not have fate with such an important position. When I get back, I must teach him well so he can live up to his potential and Senior Sister's hope."
Zhunti and Jieyin immediately parted ways upon entering the Great Desolation. Tongtian snorted, and then bid farewell to Nuwa and Redcloud Ancestor, leaving only the Three Purities. The three of them made their way to Thirty-Three Heavens.
Upon stepping into Thirty-Three Heavens, Haotian couldn't help but feel dismayed at the damage. Although the Titan Tribe didn't directly break into Thirty-Three Heavens, the destruction of Buzhou Mountain, the heavenly pillar separating heaven and earth, damaged the Thirty-Three Heavens. Ignoring the structures, even the essence of heaven and earth leaked out of Thirty-Three Heaven. If this continued, the Thirty-Three Heaven would become an ordinary location.
"Senior Sister," Haotian said, looking at Tongtian.
Tongtian ignored him and waved her hand. As if on replay, the damage done to the Thirty-Three Heavens began to reverse. Shattered rubble regrouped and returned to its previous locations, the cracks on the structures and ground disappeared, and the unstable essence returned to its original state.
“Senior Sister is mighty,” Haotian said as his eyes shone with delight. “Senior Sister, when are you going to reestablish the Heavenly Court?”
Tongtian waved her hand, a bit fed up with Haotian's yammering. “The time is not ripe yet. Rather than worrying about this, you should choose a heaven to control. You can choose any heaven from the Fourth to Ninth Heaven.”
Haotian frowned and opened his mouth, but Yaochi grabbed his arm. She shook her head and then bowed to Tongtian, Yuanshi, and Laozi. "We will excuse ourselves now, Your Eminence."
Tongtian blinked and gave Yaochi a deeper look. At least one of them was still clear-headed.
Yuanshi snorted. "Does that Haotian think he is something after the Dao Ancestor promised him a position as one of the Six Great Emperors? He should look at himself. Even if he gets the position, can he free himself from your control? He's a Quasi-Saint, not a true Saint of Heaven."
Tongtian shrugged. "Don't mind him. He's nothing more than an overexcited child. He will learn the harsh reality sooner or later. Let's go to Eminence Heaven Palace to talk."
She led Yuanshi and Laozi to First Heaven, named Pure Yang Heaven by Di Jun. Tongtian frowned when she sensed the dense yang essence lingering and waved her hand, changing to supreme purity essence. "From now, its name will be Supreme Purity Heaven."
Then, Tongtian looked at her two brothers. She thought about asking if they wanted Second or Third Heaven but decided not to. If they did agree, then wouldn't it implicitly put them in a hierarchy? She didn't want avoidable trouble if possible.
Instead, she led them into Eminence Heaven Palace. She didn't sit on the Throne of Heaven just yet and summoned three mats in the middle of the hall. She sat on one, and her brothers followed suit. "Although Zhunti's words are unpleasant, his words aren't without merit. The West will eventually become prosperous while the East will start to decline."
Yuanshi and Laozi nodded. As Saints of Heaven, they already knew this was destiny and unavoidable. However, the variable was when the East would begin its decline and when the West would start to prosper.
"Does Third Sister have any plans?" Yuanshi asked.
Tongtian nodded. "I do, but it's better not to speak of them. Jieyin and Zhunti are still Saints of Heaven. We shouldn't underestimate them."
Yuanshi looked like he wanted to argue but stilled his tongue under Tongtian's glare. She continued speaking. "I cannot say my plans, but I can give some suggestions. To increase the prosperity of the West, Jieyin and Zhunti will definitely try to alter the process in their favor. We secretly plant some pawns now and reap the benefits later."
Laozi closed his eyes and began to calculate. His eyes narrowed. "It seems my chance will be here in Thirty-Three Heavens."
Tongtian immediately thought of one of Sun Wukong's companions, Zhu Baijie. Before he reincarnated into a pig and became a pig demon, Zhu Baijie was a member of the Heavenly Court, specifically the Empyrean Marshal, who was in charge of eighty thousand soldiers. But he also had another identity. Zhu Baijie was also Taishang Laojun's disciple.
"If Eldest Brother wishes to, you can stay in any of the first three Heavens," Tongtian said.
Yuanshi quickly added, "I also sense my chances are in the Thirty-Three Heavens, I'll stay in Second Heaven."
Tongtian felt her lips twitch at Yuanshi's shamelessness. She recalled that Yuanshi didn't have much relationship with the Heavenly Court aside from his supposed stint as heavenly emperor or being the Jade Emperor's master, but that was impossible in the current Great Desolation.
Even Laozi couldn't bear to look at Yuanshi. "I'll leave my Saint Corpse in Third Heaven then."
Soon after, both Yuanshi and Laozi left. Despite her best efforts, a hierarchy still appeared among them. Yuanshi took Second Heaven and renamed it Jade Purity Heaven, while Laozi took Third Heaven and renamed it Grand Purity Heaven.
Tongtian sighed. She ascended the steps and finally sat on the Throne of Heaven. She closed her eyes and leaned back. Despite not yet officially accepting the position of Jade Emperor or reestablishing the Heavenly Court, Tongtian could feel her Karmic Luck increase.
She wanted to refine the Throne of Heaven immediately, but before then, she had another business to finish. She waved her hand, and a bronze bell over three meters tall appeared before her.
Its name was the Chaos Bell, one of the three Heaven Opening Treasures formed from Pangu's Heaven Opening Ax, like Yuanshi's Pangu Banner and Laozi's Taiji Diagram.
Different from its initial appearance, it now bore engravings on both sides. One side had the image of a handsome man in his twenties wearing noble robes of red and had a three-legged crow behind him. Engraved on the other side was a woman wearing billowing robes. Her hair fluttered, and she held an unsheathed sword, giving her a valiant air.
Tongtian felt the urge to destroy it just by looking at it. The man was Eastern Emperor Taiyi, and the woman was her.
Before the Titan-Demon Tribulation ended, Eastern Emperor Taiyi had actually asked Nuwa to play matchmaker for them. Naturally, Tongtian rejected the proposal, but that shameless bastard engraved their images on the Chaos Bell instead.
Tongtian kept staring at the Chaos Bell as if her gaze would pierce a hole through it. "Stop hiding and come out."
Nothing happened, and just as Tongtian started to frown, a head peaked out from behind the Chaos Bell. The head belonged to a boy that was less than six years old. He had a pair of lustrous eyes, like stars in the sky. Coupled with his milky white skin, ink-black hair, and small red robes, he looked like the young prince of some country.
Had it not been for his resemblance to Taiyi, Tongtian would have called him cute. The more Tongtian stared, the redder the boy's face became until he hid behind the bronze bell once more.
Finally, Tongtian opened her mouth. "Are you Taiyi?"
The boy poked out his head. "Taiyi, who's that?"
Tongtian stared at the boy, trying to see any hints of a lie. The boy's face reddened even more, and he hid behind the bell again. Once in a while, he would shyly poke his head out and stare at Tongtian.
She sighed. "From now on, your name will be Eastern Emperor Bell."
"Eastern Emperor Bell," the boy repeated the name a few times, and he smiled. He happily ran toward Tongtian and hugged her leg. "I really like it."
Tongtian resisted the urge to pet Eastern Emperor Bell's head and closed her eyes. She didn't know how to feel about Taiyi. She knew that she had no affection for him, but it was thanks to Taiyi that she could so easily refine the Eastern Emperor Bell and repel Zhunti and the other Saints.
She couldn't understand Taiyi's feelings for herself. How did it reach the point that he would turn part of his soul into an artifact spirit?
Tongtian glanced down at the Eastern Emperor Bell Spirit hugging her leg. She narrowed her eyes when she noticed him hugging for a bit too long and too tight. With a kick, the Eastern Emperor Bell Spirit flew through the air and landed on his bottom.
She ignored the teary-eyed spirit. Like hell she would believe that he didn't have Taiyi's memories or know who he was.