Heaven's Court!
Palace of the Longevity Emperor!
"Your Majesty."
"A situation has arisen."
A celestial official approached the Longevity Emperor with a respectful bow.
"Is it the plague again?" The Longevity Emperor frowned.
By now, the plague had spread throughout almost the entire Heaven's Court.
Even though they had cut off the supply of spiritual essence, the plague continued to spread.
Many celestial beings under his Longevity Palace had also been infected.
The Heaven Realm had thirty-three heavens, illustrating just how terrifyingly far this plague had reached.
"Laojun has bestowed pills that can suppress the plague."
"As long as no one consumes any more spiritual essence from Southern Zhanbu Continent, the plague can be contained. However, completely eradicating it will still require time."
"Moreover, this plague is not solely caused by spiritual essence or the flesh-refined pills. Simply being near an infected celestial can also lead to infection."
"However, Laojun's pills are highly effective, and for now, the plague within Heaven's Court is under control," the celestial official reported respectfully.
"As expected of my Daoist sect's senior uncle, dealing with such minor plagues is naturally effortless." The Longevity Emperor chuckled indifferently.
After a brief pause, he asked, "Then what have you come to report?"
"The immortals dispatched to investigate Kunlun have all gone missing. However, their life plaques have not shattered they have simply vanished without a trace, for reasons unknown."
The celestial official immediately responded.
"Eastern Shengzhou is under the control of my Daoist sect. The hands of the Buddhist sect, demons, and devils cannot reach in."
The Longevity Emperor spoke slowly.
Then, as if he had thought of something, his expression turned serious.
"Vanished?"
"This matter does indeed warrant careful attention."
At that moment
"Report!"
"A proclamation for His Majesty!"
"The Celestial Emperor has summoned you."
A celestial official's voice echoed from outside the palace.
"Haotian has summoned me?"
A thoughtful look appeared on the Longevity Emperor's face.
The Kunlun matter was instantly cast to the back of his mind.
As one of the great divine beings of Heaven's Court and one of the Six Imperial Lords, he naturally did not handle everything personally.
Besides, if the Celestial Emperor himself was summoning him, it must be for an even greater matter.
"Send more people to investigate Kunlun."
"Take my imperial decree and summon the head of Kunlun to appear before me in Heaven's Court."
With a wave of his hand, a decree appeared before the celestial official.
Then, the Longevity Emperor stood up and took a step forward, vanishing from the Palace of the Longevity Emperor.
Lingxiao Hall!
There was no celestial assembly today.
However, inside the grand hall, four imperial thrones were arranged on either side.
Above them, the Celestial Emperor sat in a position of supreme authority, his presence towering over the clouds.
"The Gouchen Emperor has arrived."
"The Ziwei Emperor has arrived."
"The Qinghua Emperor has arrived."
"The Longevity Emperor has arrived."
As the announcements rang out from outside the hall, four beams of divine light shot into the chamber.
A moment later, four figures appeared on the previously vacant thrones.
Each radiated an aura no weaker than the Great Luo Golden Immortal level some had even reached the Quasi-Saint realm.
Some had ascended to their imperial positions with their physical bodies intact.
Others had ascended with only their true souls enshrined.
Naturally
Those who had ascended with their physical bodies were far stronger, as they were bestowed with divine authority from Heaven's Court, allowing them to reach the Quasi-Saint realm.
Meanwhile, those who had only enshrined their true souls had not attained such power.
"My fellow Daoists, it has been a long time since we last gathered," Haotian, the Celestial Emperor, said with a faint smile as he gazed at the four assembled Imperial Lords.
"The last time we met was a thousand years ago."
"What pressing matter compels Your Majesty to summon all Four Imperials at once?"
The Longevity Emperor asked calmly.
"Could it be about the eastward spread of Buddhism?"
"This matter has already been approved by Your Majesty without even consulting us. Is there anything left to discuss?"
The Gouchen Emperor remarked with a hint of sarcasm.
"The spread of Buddhism to the east will divert the fortunes of the Daoist sect, yet Your Majesty remains so composed. Truly surprising."
The Ziwei Emperor added slowly.
"Enough."
"The eastward spread of Buddhism was decreed by the Saints in ancient times it was determined by the Heavenly Dao itself."
"Even though the Saints have disappeared, this decree remains."
"Besides, the Celestial Emperor has only allowed Buddhism to spread to the borders of Eastern Shengzhou, not into its core. There is nothing to worry about."
"If we can integrate the mortal world into the celestial realm, then everything will be worth it."
The Qinghua Emperor spoke calmly.
From this, it was evident
The Six Imperial Lords of Heaven's Court were far from harmonious.
Though Haotian was the Celestial Emperor and the true ruler of Heaven's Court, the other Great Emperors also held significant power.
Of course
If one had ascended to the imperial position merely as a true soul, they bore the title of Great Emperor in name but lacked true authority.
After all, Haotian controlled the Investiture of the Gods and wielded the Deity-Subduing Whip.
These were undeniable constraints.
Yet, for the sake of maintaining a facade of unity within Heaven's Court, Haotian had chosen to tolerate it all.
Listening to the words of the four Great Emperors within the hall, Haotian remained calm.
"It is already beyond control," he said slowly.
"What do you mean by this, Your Majesty?"
"Could the plague truly spread across the entire Southern Zhanbu Continent?" The Longevity Emperor frowned.
Haotian did not respond immediately.
With a wave of his hand
The Haotian Mirror appeared.
A shimmering light curtain unfolded, revealing the scene of a celestial sect in the Southern Zhanbu Continent.
Blood stained the land.
Everywhere, cries of agony filled the air.
Immortals, cultivators even mortals lay writhing in pain. Many had already succumbed, their bodies bursting apart.
Once a grand sect of tens of thousands, it had been reduced to a living hell.
From the sect master down to the lowest disciples, nearly all had fallen victim to the plague.
"Has the entire Southern Zhanbu Continent fallen into this state?" The Longevity Emperor asked in shock.
"Nearly all of it," Haotian replied in a solemn tone.
His voice carried a weight of severity.
"It seems"
"The spiritual essence and flesh-refined pills from Southern Zhanbu Continent can no longer be brought to Heaven's Court," the Gouchen Emperor stated.
"His Majesty has already issued a decree."
"All spiritual essence and flesh-refined pills from Southern Zhanbu Continent have been cut off."
"Furthermore, no immortal from Heaven's Court may set foot in Southern Zhanbu Continent without permission," the Qinghua Emperor said gravely.
"So much time has passed has the source of this plague still not been identified?"
The Ziwei Emperor turned his gaze toward Haotian.
The other Great Emperors did the same.
Among the Six Imperial Lords
Haotian held the greatest authority, commanding the most crucial divisions of the Eight Departments of Heaven's Court.
Only a portion of the Thunder Department was under the Gouchen Emperor's control.
Of course
Beneath every Great Emperor stood countless celestial soldiers and generals.
"Laojun personally studied this plague."
"He has uncovered some truths."
"This plague originates from the bodies of mortals."
"If mortals are slaughtered if their spiritual essence is extracted if their flesh is refined into pills"
"The plague will transfer into the cultivators, and even into the celestial bodies of immortals."
"The more mortals are slain, the greater the spread of this plague."
"At present, no being below the Great Luo Golden Immortal level can resist or suppress it."
Haotian's voice was grave.
Upon hearing this
The expressions of the assembled Great Emperors changed.
"A plague emerging from mortals?"
"Slaughtering mortals leads to infection?"
"Does this mean we can no longer extract spiritual essence from mortals?"
"Heaven's Court relies on spiritual essence for longevity to avoid tribulations."
"If we can no longer extract it, this would be a disaster for us."
"Your Majesty, what should be done?"
The faces of the Great Emperors darkened.
If this had been before the disappearance of the Saints before the upheaval of the Heavenly Dao
They would not have cared.
In those days, immortality was nearly limitless.
Even ordinary immortals lived for tens of thousands of years.
There was never a need for concern.
But since the Saints vanished, since the Heavenly Dao fractured, the world had changed.
Spirit Root Pills had emerged allowing even those without innate spiritual roots to cultivate.
And by consuming the flesh and blood of others, one's strength could grow.
Everything had changed.
Where once immortals lived for endless eons
Now, their lifespans dwindled.
Where once only those transcending into Taiyi or Great Luo realms faced tribulations
Now, even ordinary immortals suffered from the Three Disasters and Nine Tribulations.
And as more beings acquired cultivation through Spirit Root Pills
Massacres followed.
Mortals were slaughtered on an unimaginable scale.
A method was devised to extract spiritual essence from them.
The flesh was refined into pills.
Spiritual essence
Could extend life.
Could stave off tribulations.
From that moment on
Once-revered immortals and gods began raising humans as livestock, harvesting their spiritual essence, and refining their flesh into elixirs.
The world plunged into an era of unprecedented bloodshed.
Even now, it remains so.
Heaven's Court.
The Buddhist sect.
Countless forces across the world survived by exploiting spiritual essence.
Self-preservation was inherent to all beings immortals were no exception.
For the sake of longevity
For the sake of existing eternally in the world
They were willing to pay any price.
"Spiritual essence is something Heaven's Court cannot do without."
Haotian spoke in a solemn tone, his words allowing no room for doubt.
Without question, spiritual essence had become an indispensable part of the Heavenly Court's operations.
Although the peaches in the Peaches of Immortality Garden had effects similar to spiritual essence, their quantity was limited, and could not sustain the countless celestial beings in the Heavenly Court. Only spiritual essence was inexhaustible and ever-abundant.
"Killing mortals leads to infection by this plague."
"The spiritual essence and flesh extracted from mortals also contain this poison."
"Is there truly no way to avoid it?" the Gouchen Emperor asked with a grave expression.
"This plague I've already ordered Laozi to find a solution, but whether it can be resolved remains to be seen."
"Before that, I have made a decision that requires discussion among us all," Haotian said in a serious tone.
"What does the Heavenly Emperor intend to do?" the Longevity Emperor immediately asked.
The matter concerned spiritual essence, which was vital to all of them, so naturally, no one had any objections to discussing it.
"Spiritual essence is something the Heavenly Court cannot do without."
"At present, this plague has erupted in Nanzhanbu Continent, but there is no certainty that the same will not happen in Dongsheng Divine Continent, Xiniu Hezhou, or even Beiju Luzhou."
"Therefore, the Heavenly Court must possess an artifact capable of detecting this plague," Haotian declared.
"Indeed."
"The Heavenly Emperor is right."
"If we have such an artifact, we can use it to check whether mortals are infected. Those who are infected shall be released, while those who are not can have their spiritual essence extracted," Gouchen Emperor immediately grasped Haotian's intent.
Haotian smiled faintly and waved his hand.
A small box flew directly into the hands of the Longevity Emperor.
"This is the refined essence of the plague extracted by Laozi."
"Longevity Emperor."
"You were once the chief disciple of the Sage of Chan Sect and excel in artifact refinement. This matter falls to you," Haotian said.
"This task I shall undertake it," the Longevity Emperor responded, taking the plague essence with a wave of his hand.
"Heavenly Emperor."
"The artifact for detecting infected mortals can be refined, but the plague itself must also be addressed."
"This matter requires your discussions with Laozi," the Longevity Emperor added.
"I have already spoken with Laozi about this," Haotian said with a slight smile.
"Nanzhanbu Continent is in chaos, and Dongsheng Divine Continent must not fall."
"It shall be sealed off from Nanzhanbu Continent no one may enter. Any who approach shall be executed."
"This task shall be carried out by the heavenly soldiers and generals who lack physical bodies, to prevent infection."
"In addition, the deities listed on the Investiture of the Gods must act."
"The sects and demonic beings already infected with the plague must be eradicated to prevent its continued spread. If it extends across the entire Nanzhanbu Continent, it will only be a matter of time before it seeps into Dongsheng Divine Continent."
"We must first cleanse Nanzhanbu Continent, forbidding immortal sects from slaughtering mortals, and eliminate all infected cultivators who cannot be cured, thereby containing the plague at its source."
"This is necessary."
...
Meanwhile, in the Tusita Palace.
Laozi sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, facing an intangible aura.
It was the refined extract of the Mortal-Immortal miasma.
"Such a peculiar entity has emerged in this world it seems both naturally formed and artificially influenced."
"Strange. Very strange."
Laozi gazed intently at the Mortal-Immortal miasma, his expression reflecting astonishment.
Even he had never encountered such a thing before.
Indeed.
It was not just a poison
It was a spiritual entity.
Calling it a plague would be inaccurate, for it was rich in spiritual energy, as though born of heaven and earth. Yet, it was lethal to those who came into contact with it.
"This poison arises naturally within mortals, lying dormant without symptoms. But the moment a cultivator slaughters a mortal, they will inevitably become infected."
"To those celestial beings who rely on spiritual essence, this is a poison but to mortals, it is a safeguard."
"With this plague, immortals and deities will no longer slaughter mortals wantonly."
Laozi studied the Mortal-Immortal miasma, seemingly able to peer into its very nature with his gaze.
"This entity brings disaster to the immortals but salvation to the masses."
"The heavens have birthed this thing for a reason."
"In that case, following the natural course of events is the true will of the Dao," Laozi murmured, staring at the Mortal-Immortal miasma, already having made up his mind.
...
Nanzhanbu Continent.
A figure stood high in the sky.
"Compared to Dongsheng Divine Continent, the calamity here is far more intense. And it is not just the pure tribulation energy of the human race it seems as though the entire continent is shrouded in both tribulation and baleful energy."
"As expected."
"No wonder this is the most chaotic continent in the Mortal Realm."
Zhao Feng stood in the sky, overlooking everything below.
Just then
A vast celestial decree descended from the heavens.
"The Heavenly Emperor has issued an edict."
"The plague in Nanzhanbu Continent has spread beyond control, threatening all living beings in the world."
"As of today"
"All living beings from Nanzhanbu Continent are forbidden from entering Dongsheng Divine Continent. Heavenly soldiers shall be stationed at the borders. Any who attempt to cross shall be executed."
"Furthermore"
"All immortal sects, by order of the Heavenly Court, must cease recruitment of disciples and are forbidden from slaughtering mortals. Any sect that defies this order shall be exterminated."
"All cultivators infected with the plague must be purged by their sects. Those beyond saving shall be slain! Those with mild infections shall be imprisoned!"
"The plague is highly contagious. To avoid infection, one must refrain from slaughtering mortals. Those who interact with the infected must shield themselves with celestial energy to prevent contamination."
As the celestial decree spread
A deity, holding a pagoda in one hand, stood in the sky.
Behind him, hundreds of thousands of silver-armored heavenly soldiers and generals stood in formation.
With his proclamation, his voice echoed across the entirety of the Nanzhanbu Continent.
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